• Find People
  • Campus Map
  • PiratePort
  • A-Z
    • About
    • Submit
    • Browse
    • Login
    View Item 
    •   ScholarShip Home
    • Division of Health Sciences
    • College of Allied Health Sciences
    • Physician Assistant Studies
    • View Item
    •   ScholarShip Home
    • Division of Health Sciences
    • College of Allied Health Sciences
    • Physician Assistant Studies
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Browse

    All of The ScholarShipCommunities & CollectionsDateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsTypeDate SubmittedThis CollectionDateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsTypeDate Submitted

    My Account

    Login

    Statistics

    View Google Analytics Statistics

    Stair falls: caregiver’s “missed step� as a source of childhood fractures

    Thumbnail
    View/ Open
    11832_2014_Article_551.PMC3935023.pdf (664.1Kb)

    Show full item record
    
    Author
    Pennock, Andrew T.; Gantsoudes, George D.; Forbes, Jennifer L.; Asaro, Amanda M.; Mubarak, Scott J.
    Abstract
    Background The purpose of this study was to describe fractures sustained by children and to analyze the associated costs when a caretaker falls down stairs while holding a child. Materials and methods Between 2004 and 2012, 16 children who sustained a fracture after a fall down stairs while being carried by a caregiver were identified. Parents/caregivers were interviewed to see how the fall occurred, and a cost analysis was performed. Results The average age of the patients was 14.5 months (7–51 months). The lower extremity was involved in 15 of 16 fractures, with 8 involving the femur. The majority were buckle fractures, but all diaphyseal femur fractures were spiral. Three patients required a reduction in the operating room. All fractures healed with cast immobilization. Five patients underwent skeletal surveys, as the treating physicians were concerned about potential child abuse. The average cost of treatment was $6785 (range $948–45,876). Detailed histories from the caregivers showed that they “missed a step” due to the child being carried in front of the caregiver, obscuring their vision. Conclusions A fall in a caregiver’s arms while going down stairs can result in multiple orthopedic injuries. The costs of treating these injuries are not insignificant, and the suspicion of child abuse can be both costly and unnecessary in the case of a true accident. While descending the stairs with a child in their arms, the caregiver should hold the child to the side so as not to obscure their vision of the step with one arm, ideally holding the handrail with the other. Level of evidence IV case series.
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/10342/5721
    Subject
     Pediatric fractures; Accidental falls; Cost analysis 
    Date
    2014-01
    Citation:
    APA:
    Pennock, Andrew T., & Gantsoudes, George D., & Forbes, Jennifer L., & Asaro, Amanda M., & Mubarak, Scott J.. (January 2014). Stair falls: caregiver’s “missed step� as a source of childhood fractures. Journal of Children's Orthopaedics, (8:1), p.77-81. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10342/5721

    Display/Hide MLA, Chicago and APA citation formats.

    MLA:
    Pennock, Andrew T., and Gantsoudes, George D., and Forbes, Jennifer L., and Asaro, Amanda M., and Mubarak, Scott J.. "Stair falls: caregiver’s “missed step� as a source of childhood fractures". Journal of Children's Orthopaedics. 8:1. (77-81.), January 2014. May 22, 2022. http://hdl.handle.net/10342/5721.
    Chicago:
    Pennock, Andrew T. and Gantsoudes, George D. and Forbes, Jennifer L. and Asaro, Amanda M. and Mubarak, Scott J., "Stair falls: caregiver’s “missed stepâ€? as a source of childhood fractures," Journal of Children's Orthopaedics 8, no. 1 (January 2014), http://hdl.handle.net/10342/5721 (accessed May 22, 2022).
    AMA:
    Pennock, Andrew T., Gantsoudes, George D., Forbes, Jennifer L., Asaro, Amanda M., Mubarak, Scott J.. Stair falls: caregiver’s “missed step� as a source of childhood fractures. Journal of Children's Orthopaedics. January 2014; 8(1) 77-81. http://hdl.handle.net/10342/5721. Accessed May 22, 2022.
    Collections
    • Physician Assistant Studies

    xmlui.ArtifactBrowser.ItemViewer.elsevier_entitlement

    East Carolina University has created ScholarShip, a digital archive for the scholarly output of the ECU community.

    • About
    • Contact Us
    • Send Feedback