Preventive Measures for Children with Multiple Fractures

What conditions should children with multiple fractures be screened for?

Are there specific signs that indicate the need for screening?

Screening for Children with Multiple Fractures

Children with multiple fractures should be screened under certain conditions to ensure they aren't suffering from any underlying disorders like Osteogenesis Imperfecta or Non-Accidental Injury.

This includes instances of low trauma fractures, delayed or complicated healing, and the presence of symptoms related to other body systems.

Such screenings can include physical exams, radiology, blood tests, and potentially genetic testing.

Children with multiple fractures should be screened under specific conditions to ensure they are not suffering from any underlying medical disorders, such as Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI), often referred to as brittle bone disease, and Non-Accidental Injury (NAI).

Osteogenesis Imperfecta is a genetic disorder characterized by fragile bones that break easily, often without apparent cause. Non-Accidental Injury may be suspected if the circumstances of the fracture are unclear or inconsistent with the child's developmental stage.

Firstly, children who experience multiple fractures with little or no trauma should be screened. This can indicate a condition like OI. Secondly, children who have delayed healing or complications in healing should be screened. Last but not least, if a child has other symptoms related to different body systems along with multiple fractures, for instance, a child with blue sclera (a symptom of OI).

A comprehensive screening will include not only physical examinations but also family medical history, radiological investigations, blood tests for calcium levels, and potentially, genetic testing.