Background: Supracondylar humeral fractures (SCHF) comprise the overwhelming majority of all hospitalised paediatric elbow injuries, commonly require surgical intervention and have significant long-term complications. This study determines the incidence and outcomes of paediatric SCHF in Te Manawa Taki (TMT) Midland region of Aotearoa New Zealand (AoNZ).
Materials and Methods: Retrospective data from the TMT Trauma Registry was collected for all paediatric trauma hospitalisations (ages 0-14 years) over an eleven-year period, from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2022. Patients with SCHF were identified using the International Classification of Disease-10. Demographic and injury characteristics, along with hospital costs, were analysed.
Results: Paediatric SCHF (n=1563) occurred with an incidence of 73.7/100,000 (CI 61.5-85.8). Majority of those hospitalised (62.8%) were aged 5-9 years. 5-9 year olds were 2.0 times and 6.6 times more frequently hospitalised than 0-4 and 10-14 year olds. Injuries most commonly occurred in the home (40.9%) followed by school, other institution and public area (32.5%). Majority (91.7%) of injuries were from falls with majority occurring at less than 1 metre. Over three quarters of patients (76.2%) spent one day in hospital and had operative management. The average cost per admission was $6, 354 with estimated total hospital costs of $9,842,587. There was no significant difference in annual incidence over time.
Conclusion: Paediatric SCHF are a major concern in AoNZ, especially among 5-9 year olds. There is a clear need for targeted interventions at home and in schools to reduce falls and address the substantial costs associated with this issue.