Abstract:

Background: Childhood injuries are a global public health problem which fractures contribute 10 -25% with the majority of the injuries resulting from falls said to occur more in boys (64%) than girls (40%). Most of these falls are preventable by institution of simple measures like supervision during play, use of soft landing surfaces in play areas and making play equipment safe.

Objectives: To determine the pattern of paediatric long bone fractures at Bugando Medical Centre.

Methodology: This study will be a cross-sectional prospective study conducted at Bugando Medical Centre after obtaining ethical clearance which will involve 87 paediatric patients with long bone injuries and data will be collected using a structured questionnaire thereafter, the data collected will be analysed using SPSS version 20 before presentation.

Results: Majority of participants were males (71%) with mean age of 5.22 years residing in town 69 (79.31%). 69 injuries occurred outdoor at school 43 (49.43%) and 20 (22.995) at home when children were playing with other children in which the fracture involved radius 43 (49.43%) injured in sport activities 38 (43.68%).

Conclusion: Majority of long bone injuries occurred outdoor while the children were at school with other children playing in the sport in which the injury mostly involved the radius and humerus which was closed and majority the children described to get the injury for the first time. So children especially paediatrics should be given appropriate and supportive care by adults such as parents, caregivers and teachers while at home, in roads and at schools so as to prevent occurrence of these bone injuries for better growth and development of the children.