Clin Exp Emerg Med.  2017 Mar;4(1):32-37. 10.15441/ceem.16.153.

Characteristics of orbital wall fractures in preschool and school-aged children

• Yang DJ
• Kim YJ
• Seo DW
• Lee HJ
• Park IJ
• Sohn CH
• Ryoo JM
• Lee JS
• Kim WY
• Lim KS

• KMID: 2376722
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.15441/ceem.16.153

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to evaluate the injury patterns in pediatric patients with an orbital wall fracture (OWF) and to identify the differences in injury patterns between preschool and school-aged patients with OWF who presented to the emergency department.
METHODS
We performed a retrospective observational study in the emergency department of a tertiary hospital between January 2004 and March 2014. A total of 177 pediatric patients (<18 years) with OWF who underwent facial bone computed tomography scans with specific discharge codes were included. Patients were categorized into preschool (≤7 years) and school-aged (>7 years) pediatric groups.
RESULTS
The inferior wall was the most common fracture site in both the preschool and school-aged pediatric groups (50.0% vs. 64.4%, P=0.15). The male-to-female ratio and the mechanism of injury showed significant differences between the two age groups. Violence was the most common mechanism of injury in the school-aged pediatric group (49.3%), whereas falls from a height caused OWF in approximately half of the patients in the preschool pediatric group (42.9%). Concomitant injuries and facial fractures had a tendency to occur more frequently in the school-aged pediatric group.
CONCLUSION
Significant differences according to the sex and mechanisms of injury were identified in preschool and school-aged pediatric patients with OWF.

Keyword

Orbital fractures; Pediatric; Facial injuries; Computed tomography; Emergency medical services

MeSH Terms

Accidental Falls
Child*
Emergency Medical Services
Emergency Service, Hospital
Facial Bones
Facial Injuries
Humans
Observational Study
Orbit*
Orbital Fractures
Retrospective Studies
Tertiary Care Centers
Violence