The significance of femoral fractures in children.

This study was undertaken to determine the clinical circumstances of femoral fractures in children. The study was a retrospective investigation of 117 consecutive patients with femoral fractures admitted to The Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri, from December 1975 to September 1979. Of the 117 patients. 41 had associated injuries. No patient whose only injury consisted of a closed-single femur fracture had evidence of shock. Of 24 children under 2 years of age, 19 sustained injury in an abusive incident. Of 27 children 5 to 6 years of age, 18 sustained injury in an auto-pedestrian accident. Closed-single femur fractures in children do not produce shock. Children who are less than 2 years of age are likely to have sustained injury through abuse.