Obese Kids More Prone to Wrist Fractures, Study

Obese children suffer a higher risk of suffering a wrist fracture and even experience complications related to the healing of the fracture, suggests a new finding.

This new study reveals that children considered to be overweight or obese are more prone to have a distal radius fracture (bone break near the wrist). Also they are prone to experience the complications linked to the healing of the distal radius fracture. The study is based on data of 157 obese victims who had distal radius fractures.

The data of those with wrist fractures who were rushed to the Emergency departments and underwent a surgical treatment was collected from the large urban pediatric practice between January 2011- June 2012.

All the wrist fracture victims were initially treated with fiberglass casting and were monitored until they were completely healed (radiographic union). The researchers recorded the patient's age, weight, height, and frequency of visits, surgeries and the type/angle of fracture.

Nearly 42 percent i.e. 64 children, were diagnosed with a high body mass index more than the 85^th percentile i.e. overweight children. A total of 29 percent i.e. 46 children were considered as obese, BMI more than 95^th percentile.

There were 27 children who needed repeat reduction i.e. repositioning of the bone through surgery. A total of 14 non obese children out of 91, needed a second procedure.

The 13 obese children, on the other hand, needed repeat reduction. Obese kids made frequent follow up visits and they had lesser chances of having a first successful bone repositioning in the emergency room.

The study researchers suggest that children who are diagnosed as obese should be monitored more closely and their fractures treated with more care from the onset.

This finding was presented at the 2014 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS).