Pediatric trauma: getting through the night.

As is the case in adults, the timing and type of emergent treatment of fractures in children can be controversial. Some emergent conditions, such as compartment syndrome, pelvic fractures with hemodynamic instability, and open fractures, are managed similarly in adults and children. However, other types of fractures are unique to children or are managed differently in children and adults. To prevent complications, it is important to understand the appropriate treatment and timing of treatment of supracondylar humeral fractures and other specific elbow fractures, hip fractures and dislocations, and physeal fractures about the knee in pediatric patients.