[Emergency radiographs in injured children and adolescents].

BACKGROUND

Adequate interpretation of radiographs of injured children and adolescents is key for appropriate treatment. For the purposes of structuring in-hospital education and training, conventional radiographs obtained in the emergency department (ED) should be analyzed.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

A total of 10,232 radiographs of children and adolescents (0-17 years old) were analyzed retrospectively. Data was analyzed according to sex, age, time, radiograph, and type of insurance.

RESULTS

The male to female ratio was 3:2. In all, 76% of all radiographs were processed during on-call duty hours. Radiographs of the ankle were ordered most at a rate of 11%. Radiographs of the skull, wrist, finger, and ankle stood out from the sum of all radiographs and together accounted for 40%.

CONCLUSION

Radiographs of injured children are analyzed predominantly during on-call duty hours. Frequently mandated radiographs should be diagnosed accurately and standard injuries should be well known. Particular attention should be directed to the typical injury patterns of the ankle joint.