Bone mineral density in girls with forearm fractures

Osteoporosis in premenopausal women

The development of osteoporosis and fractures in young premenopausal women is infrequent and is usually associated with secondary causes of osteoporosis. Therefore, it is recommendable to perform a clinical evaluation and a thorough laboratory study searching for possible causes of bone loss in these patients. Treatment depends on the cause of osteoporosis and the associated processes as well as the future gestational desire of the patient, all of which should be taken into account when evaluating the most adequate diagnostic and the therapeutic approach in these patients.

Risk of wrist fracture, estimated by the load-to-strength ratio, declines following sleeve gastrectomy in adolescents and young adults

To understand whether the bone loss which occurs after vertical sleeve gastrectomy increases the risk of fracture, we used an engineering model to estimate risk in participants before and after surgery. We found that estimated risk decreased 1 year after surgery and remained lower, though had rebounded, at year 2.

PURPOSE

Vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) improves metabolic health in young people with obesity but is accompanied by substantial loss of bone mass and estimated bone strength. We thus estimated fracture risk following VSG using the load-to-strength ratio (LSR), which integrates bone strength estimates with the predicted force of a fall.

METHODS

Prospective 2-year study of youth ages 13-24 years with obesity undergoing VSG (n = 24) or lifestyle therapy (n = 34). We performed high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography of the distal radius and microfinite element analysis to estimate bone strength and calculated LSR.

RESULTS

VSG participants lost 26.4 ± 8.1% weight at year 1 (p < 0.001), which was sustained at year 2, while control participants gained weight at year 2 (4.5 ± 8.3%, p = 0.009). The predicted impact force decreased at years 1 and 2 following VSG (p < 0.001) but increased at year 2 among controls (p = 0.011). Estimated bone strength was unchanged at year 1 but decreased (p < 0.001) at year 2 following VSG, while bone strength did not change in controls. At year 1, the LSR decreased among VSG participants (p < 0.001), implying a lower risk of fracture. At year 2, the LSR was lower than baseline (p < 0.001), but higher compared to year 1 (p = 0.001). LSR did not change in the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

Short-term estimated fracture risk at the radius following VSG decreases. However, ongoing bone loss despite stable weight between years 1 and 2 leads to a concerning rise in estimated fracture risk. Longer follow-up will be critical to evaluate the trajectory of fracture risk. (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02557438, registered 9/23/2015).

Maternal Smoking During Pregnancy and Offspring's Risk for Bone Fracture in Childhood and Adolescence

Conditions during gestation, such as maternal smoking, may affect offspring's bone structure. This could increase the offspring's risk of bone fractures during childhood. In this study, we aimed to assess the association between prenatal exposure to maternal smoking and childhood bone fracture risk. We used a register-based birth cohort that included all children born in Finland between January 1987 and September 1990. After exclusions, the final study population consisted of 220,699 persons. Using a unique national identification number, we linked the cohort data to the fracture diagnosis in specialty care and covariate data using the Medical Birth Register (MBR), Statistics Finland and Care Register for Health Care (CRHC). The fractures were analyzed in three groups: all fractures, non-high-energy fractures, and high-energy fractures. The analyses were adjusted for sex, parity, child's year of birth, mother's age at childbirth, mother's and father's educational level, and mother's fracture status. We tested the association in three age groups: <1 year, 1-<5 years, and 5-<15 years using Cox and (recurrent fractures) Poisson regression. A total of 18,857 (8.5%) persons had at least one bone fracture diagnosis before the age of 15 years. In the age group 5-<15 years, maternal smoking during pregnancy was associated with higher fracture risk in all of the studied fracture groups: hazard ratio (HR) = 1.12 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06-1.17) in all fractures, 1.13 (95% CI 1.07-1.19) in non-high-energy, and 1.15 (95% CI 1.00-1.32) in high-energy fractures. There were no significant associations in other age groups in any of the fracture groups. No statistically significant association between maternal smoking during pregnancy and offspring's risk of recurrent fractures was found. In conclusion, 5- to 15-year-olds whose mothers have smoked during pregnancy have an increased risk of bone fractures treated in specialty care. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).

Decreased bone mass in adolescents with bone fragility fracture but not in young children: a case-control study

Background

The incidence of distal forearm fracture due to minimal/moderate trauma shows a bimodal distribution for age at event, with one peak occurring during early adolescence, in both boys and girls and the other one in postmenopausal females. The aim of this study was, therefore, to document whether the relationship between bone mineral density and fracture is different in young children compared with adolescents.

Methods

A matched-pair, case-control study has been conducted to evaluate bone mineral density in 469 young children and 387 adolescents of both sexes, with/without fracture due to minimal/moderate trauma with assurance that the compared groups were equally susceptible to the outcome event. All fractures were radiographically confirmed. The study utilized bone mineral areal density of the total body, spine, hips, and forearm; volumetric bone mineral density of the forearm; and metacarpal radiogrammetry measurements. The study controlled for skeletal development, bone geometry, body composition, hand grip strength, calcium intake, and vitamin D status.

Results

Adolescents with distal forearm fracture have reduced bone mineral density at multiple skeletal regions of interest. This was documented by the bone mineral areal density measurements at multiple skeletal sites (p < 0.001), volumetric bone mineral density measurements of the forearm (p < 0.0001), and metacarpal radiogrammetry (p < 0.001). Adolescent females with fracture had reduced cross-sectional areas of the radius and metacarpals. The bone status of young female and male children with fracture was no different to its controls. Increased body fatness was more prevalent among fracture cases than in controls. Around 72% of young female and male children with fracture had serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels below the threshold of 31 ng/ml, compared with only 42% of female controls and to 51% of male controls.

Conclusions

Adolescents with bone fragility fracture had reduced bone mineral density at multiple skeletal regions of interest, whereas this was not the case with younger children. The results of the study may have implications for the prevention of bone fragility in this segment of the pediatric population.

Girl predominance in trampoline-related forearm shaft fractures and their increasing incidence since 2000

BACKGROUND

There are reports of increasing incidence of forearm shaft fractures in children. Their treatment has been preferably nonoperative but surgical fixation has gained popularity due to elastic stable intramedullary nailing. We aimed to study whether the incidence of pediatric both-bone forearm shaft fractures and their operative care have changed since year 2000. Trampoline injuries, in particular, and their treatment, re-displacement and short-term outcomes were the secondary outcomes of the study.

METHODS

A population-based study in the geographic catchment area of Oulu University Hospital district in 20-years of time period (2000 - 2019) was performed. Altogether 481 diaphyseal both-bone forearm fractures in children (< 16 years) were included. Age- and sex-related incidence rates were determined, by using the official numbers of the population-in-risk by Statistics Finland. Trampoline jumping and other types of injury were reviewed, as well as particulars of treatment and outcomes.

RESULTS

The incidence of diaphyseal both-bone forearm fractures increased from 9.4/100 000 in 2000-2001 to 41.7/100 000 in 2018-2019 (P < 0.001). Surgical treatment increased respectively (from 8.8/100 000 in 2000-2001 to 35.3/100 000 in 2018-2019, P < 0.0001). Trampoline injuries explained one in three (29%) of all fractures; they increased from 0% in 2000-2001 to 36.6% in 2018-2019 (P < 0.001). During the last four years of the study (2016-2019), most trampoline-related injuries occurred among girls (61.2%), compared to boys (38.8%) (P = 0.031). Trampoline-related injuries comprised 46.9% of all fractures in girls, compared to 26.0% among boys (Diff. 20.8%, 4.7% to 36.1%, P = 0.009). The mean age of the patients elevated from 6.4 years (2000-2001) to 8.6 years (2018-2019) (P = 0.015). Boys predominated (69.6%) in 2000-2009 but during the last ten years, there was no statistical difference in distribution between the genders (males 54.6%, P = 0.11).

CONCLUSIONS

During the twenty-year's of study period, the incidence of pediatric diaphyseal forearm fractures increased fivefold. Trampolining was the most usual single reason for the fractures. More attention should be focused to increase the safety of trampoline jumping, in particular among the girls.

Load-to-strength ratio at the radius is higher in adolescent and young adult females with obesity compared to normal-weight controls

BACKGROUND

Among adolescents with extremity fractures, individuals with obesity have greater representation compared with individuals of normal-weight, despite having higher areal and volumetric bone mineral density (aBMD, vBMD) than their normal-weight counterparts. The relative increase in BMD in individuals with obesity may thus be insufficient to support the greater force generated upon falling. The load-to-strength ratio is a biomechanical approach for assessing the risk of fracture by comparing applied force to bone strength, with higher load-to-strength ratios indicating higher fracture risk.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the load-to-strength ratio at the distal radius in adolescent and young adult females with severe obesity (OB) compared with normal-weight healthy controls (HC). We hypothesized that OB have a higher load-to-strength ratio compared to HC.

METHODS

We examined bone parameters in 65 girls 14-21 years old: 33 OB and 32 HC. We used dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to assess body composition, high resolution peripheral quantitative CT (HR-pQCT) to estimate vBMD, and microfinite element analysis (μFEA) to assess bone strength at the distal radius. To quantify fracture risk, we computed the load-to-strength ratio, where the numerator is defined as the load applied to the outstretched hand during a forward fall and the denominator is the bone strength, as estimated by μFEA.

RESULTS

Although OB had higher total vBMD than HC (368.3 vs. 319.9 mgHA/cm3, p = 0.002), load-to-strength ratio at the radius was greater in OB than HC after controlling for age and race (0.66 vs. 0.54, p < 0.0001). In OB, impact force and load-to-strength ratio were associated negatively with % lean mass (r = -0.49; p = 0.003 and r = -0.65; p < 0.0001 respectively) and positively with visceral fat (r = 0.65; p < 0.0001 and r = 0.36; p = 0.04 respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Adolescent and young adult females with obesity have higher load-to-strength ratio at the distal radius due to higher forces applied to bone in a fall combined with incomplete adaptation of bone to increasing body weight. This is differentially affected by lean mass, fat mass, and visceral fat mass.

Forearm Fractures in Overweight-Obese Children and Adolescents: A Matter of Bone Density, Bone Geometry or Body Composition?

Forearm fractures in children and adolescents are associated with increased body mass index (BMI). This bone site is non-weight-bearing and therefore is appropriate to explore the effect of BMI on bone mineral density (BMD) and bone geometry, avoiding the confounding effect of increased weight-associated mechanical loading. The aim of this review was to summarize available evidence on bone indices and body composition assessed by peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) or dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at the forearm level in overweight (Ow) or obese (Ob) subjects. We conducted a review of the literature according to the PICOS model. A total of 46 studies were identified following the literature search. A final number of 12 studies were included in this review. pQCT studies evidenced that Ow and Ob children typically have normal or increased volumetric BMD (vBMD), total bone area and cortical area, with normal or reduced cortical thickness at the forearm. Outcomes from DXA evaluations are less conclusive. In almost all the studies fat mass and lean mass area at the forearm are increased. A higher fat-to-lean mass ratio has been observed in few studies. Bone strength was reported as normal or increased compared to normal weight peers. In Ow or Ob children-adolescents, vBMD, bone size and bone strength are not reduced compared to normal weight peers. The local higher fat-to-lean mass ratio may give a mismatch between bone strength and the load experienced by the distal forearm during a fall, resulting in increased risk of forearm fractures.

Acquisition of peak bone mass

Peak bone mass (PBM) is a key determinant of bone mass and fragility fractures later in life. The increase in bone mass during childhood and adolescence is mainly related to an increase in bone size rather to changes in volumetric bone density. Race, gender, and genetic factors are the main determinants of PBM achievement. Nevertheless, environmental factors such as physical activity, calcium and protein intakes, weight and age at menarche, are also playing an important role in bone mass accrual during growth. Therefore, optimization of calcium and protein intakes and weight-bearing physical activity during growth is an important strategy for optimal acquisition of PBM and bone strength and for contributing to prevent fractures later in life.

Vitamin D level, body mass index and fracture risk in children: vitamin D deficiency and fracture risk

The objective of this study was to determine the impacts of preventable causes of fracture, such as vitamin D deficiency, disturbed calcium homeostasis and obesity on fracture occurrence in minor traumas. In this way, the effects of relevant parameters on fracture may be further elucidated. A prospective case-control study in children aged 2-18 years children with and without fractures was performed. Participants with a pediatric trauma score higher than 10 presenting to minor trauma were included to exclude the significant impact of severe trauma on fracture. The effects of obesity, parameters associated with vitamin D and Ca homeostasis on fracture occurrence were evaluated. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to test for associations between fracture status and the assessed variables. The relationships between the variables and the odds of fracture occurrence were examined using logistic regression models. The sample consisted of 76 patients and 50 controls. There were no significant differences between the patients and controls in terms of age, sex, trauma type and pubertal period. The patients had a significantly higher mean BMI percentile (61.2 ± 30.7, 36.7 ± 30.7; P < 0.001). Likewise, patients were more likely than controls to have a lower mean 25(OH)D level and mean phosphorus level (respectively, 13.4 ± 7.0, 17.3 ± 7.8; P = 0.004, and 4.6 ± 0.7, 5.1 ± 0.8; P < 0.001). Moreover, fractures were substantially more frequent in children with vitamin D deficiency (<20 ng/mL, χ2: 7.781, df: 1, P = 0.005). In the multivariate logistic model, BMI percentile and vitamin D levels remained significantly associated with increased odds of fracture [1.02 (1.01-1.04), P < 0.001 and 0.93 (0.89-0.98), P = 0.01]. The present study supports an association of high BMI and vitamin D deficiency with an increased odds of fracture occurrence in children. The findings may help physicians to reduce the risk factors of fracture by preventive efforts. Thus, unexpected health costs and morbidity may be minimized.

Effects of vitamin D and high dairy protein intake on bone mineralization and linear growth in 6- to 8-year-old children: the D-pro randomized trial

BACKGROUND

Vitamin D and dairy protein may stimulate bone mineralization and linear growth in children, but previous studies show inconsistent results and have not examined their combined effects.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate combined and separate effects of vitamin D supplementation and high-protein (HP) compared with normal-protein (NP) yogurt intake on children's bone mineralization and linear growth.

METHODS

In a 2 × 2-factorial trial, 200 healthy, 6- to 8-year-old, Danish, children with light skin (55°N) were randomized to 20 µg/d vitamin D3 or placebo and to substitute 260 g/d dairy with HP (10 g protein/100 g) or NP (3.5 g protein/100 g) yogurt for 24 weeks during an extended winter. Outcomes were total body less head (TBLH) and lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC), and bone area (BA) by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, height, and biomarkers of bone turnover and growth. The primary outcome was TBLH BMD.

RESULTS

In total, 184 children (92%) completed the study. The baseline serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D was 80.8 ± 17.2 nmol/L, which increased by 7.2 ± 14.1 nmol/L and decreased by 32.3 ± 17.5 nmol/L with vitamin D and placebo, respectively. The baseline protein intake was 15.4 ± 2.4 energy percentage (E%), which increased to 18.3 ± 3.4 E% with HP. There were no vitamin D-yogurt interactions and no main effects of either intervention on TBLH BMD. However, vitamin D supplementation increased lumbar spine BMD and TBLH BMC compared to placebo, whereas HP groups showed lower increments in lumbar spine BMD, TBLH BMC and BA, and plasma osteocalcin compared to NP groups. Height, growth factors, and parathyroid hormone levels were unaffected.

CONCLUSIONS

Although there were no effects on whole-body BMD, vitamin D increased bone mass and spinal BMD, whereas high compared with normal dairy protein intake had smaller incremental effects on these outcomes. This supports a recommended vitamin D intake of around 20 µg/d during winter but not use of HP dairy products for improved bone mineralization among healthy, well-nourished children. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03956732.

The impact of lifestyle on forearm fractures in children: A retrospective cohort analysis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Forearm fractures are frequent in children. It is important to identify predisposing factors for increased fracture risk. This retrospective analysis aimed to investigate the correlation between forearm fractures in children and co-factors such as age, TV consumption, consumption of soft drinks, the kind of soft drinks consumed as well as physical activity in daily life and BMI.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort analysis compared 355 participants at the age of 4 to 12 between 2017 and 2018 with and without forearm fractures in children. It was based on a questionnaire to assess the above-mentioned cofactors regarding behavior and lifestyles choices and aimed to identify whether or not these lead to an increased risk of forearm fractures. For statistical analysis logistic regression was used.

RESULTS

Logistic regression showed a significant effect on forearm fractures in children for the variables age (Odds ratio 3.3 [95% confidence interval 1.5-7.3], P = .003), TV consumption (Odds ratio 5.4 [95% confidence interval 2.5-22.6], P < .001), consumption of soft drinks (Odds ratio 2.6 [95% confidence interval 1.2-5.6], P = .013), and the kind of soft drinks consumed (Odds ratio 3.1 [95% confidence interval 1.5-6.3], P = .003), [Nagelkerkes-R² = 0.458; Chi² = 85.037; df = 6]) with a strong effect according to Cohen (f² = 0.84).

CONCLUSION

The study showed a significant correlation between TV and soft drink consumption and increased risk for forearm fractures in children. TV consumption and consumption of soft drinks should be reduced in children to prevent forearm fractures.

Role of Polyphenols in the Metabolism of the Skeletal System in Humans and Animals – A Review

Polyphenols are a group of compounds arousing enormous interest due to their multiple effects on both human and animal health and omnipresence in plants. A number of in vitro and animal model studies have shown that all polyphenols exhibit anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, and play a significant role against oxidative stress-related pathologies. They also exert gut promotory effects and prevent chronic degenerative diseases. However, less attention has been paid to the potential influence of polyphenols on bone properties and metabolism. It is well known that proper growth and functioning of the organism depend largely on bone growth and health. Therefore, understanding the action of substances (including polyphenols) that may improve the health and functioning of the skeletal system and bone metabolism is extremely important for the health of the present and future generations of both humans and farm animals. This review provides a comprehensive summary of literature related to causes of bone loss during ageing of the organism (in both humans and animals) and possible effects of dietary polyphenols preventing bone loss and diseases. In particular, the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms that can modulate skeletal homeostasis and influence the bone modeling and remodeling processes are presented.

A retrospective registry analysis of the transport-related health burden of wheeled recreational devices in Queensland, Australia

OBJECTIVE

Evaluate injury patterns from wheeled recreational devices (WRD) in the public space and explore risk factors for hospital admission.

METHOD

A cross-sectional analysis of WRD injury prevalence and risk factors for hospital admissions was conducted using data from the Queensland Injury Surveillance Unit (QISU) database for 2007 to 2017. Descriptive statistics and a log-binomial regression model were used to calculate adjusted relative risk for hospital admission.

RESULTS

Most WRD injury in the public space was related to stand-alone WRD injury events such as falls, with few reported WRD users being hit by vehicles from 2007 to 2017. Stand-alone WRD injury events had a higher independent risk of hospital admissions when injured in the head/neck/face (RR 2.08, 95%CI 1.6 to 2.8, p<0.001), and when the injury was a fracture (RR 2.57, 95%CI 2.1 to 3.3, p<0.001) or a brain injury (RR 3.19, 95%CI 2.5 to 4.1, p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Head, brain and facial injuries and fractures are leading preventable factors for hospital admissions due to WRD injury. These types of injuries generate a preventable burden to the health system. Implications for public health: The results support the need to consider legislation regarding mandatory helmet use for non-motorised WRD when used on public roads and footpaths, while further research is conducted. This strategy could reduce the long-term health outcomes associated with head, face and brain injury in young commuters.

Serum Levels of Vitamin D in Children with or without Isolated Distal Radius Fractures: A Prospective Clinical Study

Objective  To compare the serum levels of vitamin D and minerals in children with or without isolated distal radius fractures.

Methods  The present prospective clinical study included 50 children (aged between 5 and 15 years) with isolated distal radius fractures who were admitted to our emergency unit between February and May 2018 as the study group (group A), and 50 healthy children with no history of fracture as the control group (group B). Peripheral venous blood samples were obtained and analyzed for measurements of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), phosphorus (P), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and parathyroid hormone (PTH) in both groups. Patient characteristics and peripheral venous blood samples were compared between the groups.

Results  The mean age, height, weight, body mass index (BMI) and gender distribution were similar in both groups. There were no statistical differences in the blood analyses, including Ca, Mg, P, ALP, and PTH. However, the serum levels of 25(OH)D were statistically lower in group A when compared to group B ( p  < 0.001), and the number of patients with 25(OH)D insufficiency was statistically higher in group A than in group B (p = 0.012).

Conclusion  Children with isolated distal radius fracture should be informed about vitamin D deficiency, and, in children with low levels of vitamin D, supplementation may be considered.

Association between maternal smoking during pregnancy and risk of bone fractures in offspring: a systematic review and meta-analysis

This study aimed to investigate the effect of maternal smoking during pregnancy (MSDP) on the risk of bone fractures in the offspring through a systematic review and meta-analysis. The PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases were systematically searched for relevant articles published through July 2019. According to heterogeneity, the pooled risk ratio (RR) and odds ratio (OR) and their corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) were obtained using fixed or random effects models. The heterogeneity and quality of the included studies were assessed by the I-squared (I2 ) statistic and the Newcastle-Ottawa scale, respectively. Sensitivity analyses were performed to test the effect of MSDP misclassification on the results. The review of 842 search records yielded 5 studies including 8,746 mother-child pairs that were included in the meta-analysis. Pooling adjusted effect measures showed that MSDP was not associated with a later risk of bone fractures in the offspring (pooled RR, 1.15; 95% CI, 0.84-1.58; I2 =66.8%; P=0.049). After the adjustment for misclassification, MSDP may be associated with a 27% increased risk of bone fracture (pooled OR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.00-1.62; I2 =0%; P=0.537). After the adjustment for misclassification, MSDP is associated with an increased risk of bone fractures among children whose mothers smoked during pregnancy.

Clinical Criteria Can Identify Children With Osteopenia in Newly Diagnosed Crohn Disease

OBJECTIVES

Chronic inflammation of Crohn disease (CD) is associated with reduced bone mineral density (BMD). As bone mass is almost exclusively accrued during childhood, early recognition of osteopenia is especially important in pediatric CD. We aimed to identify variables associated with osteopenia to guide dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan screening to those who most need it.

METHODS

This was a retrospective inception cohort study of children newly diagnosed with CD, and routinely referred to DXA scans. Demographic and explicit clinical data were recorded along with whole-body less head BMD, adjusted for age, sex, and height by z-scores.

RESULTS

Of the 116 included children (mean age 13 ± 3.1 years, 67 [58%] boys, mean body mass index [BMI] 16.7 ± 2.6), 63 (54%) had normal BMD (z-score > -1) or borderline osteopenia (-1 ≥ z-score > -2) and 53 (46%) had osteopenia (z-score ≤ -2). Osteopenia was associated with lower BMI z-score (-0.8 ± 1.2 vs -1.8 ± 1.1, P < 0.001) and higher PCDAI (33.7 ± 15.2 vs 25.7 ± 16.5; P = 0.009) than those with BMD z-score >-2. In total, 59% of children with BMI z-score <-0.5 had moderate-severe osteopenia and only 18% of those with higher z-scores. Multivariate logistic regression identified BMI z-score as the sole risk factor (OR 1.28 [95% CI 1.08-1.52], P = 0.005). BMI z-score ≥-0.5 excludes osteopenia with a sensitivity 87%, specificity 49%, NPV 82%, and PPV 59%.

CONCLUSIONS

Osteopenia was found in nearly half of children with newly onset CD. BMI z-score <-0.5 should prompt referral to DXA screening.

A single genetic locus associated with pediatric fractures: A genome-wide association study on 3,230 patients

The understanding of the biological and environmental risk factors of fractures in pediatrics is limited. Previous studies have reported that fractures involve heritable traits, but the genetic factors contributing to the risk of fractures remain elusive. Furthermore, genetic influences specific to immature bone have not been thoroughly studied. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to identify genetic variations that are associated with fractures in early childhood. The present study used a prospective Northern Finland Birth Cohort (year 1986; n=9,432). The study population was comprised of 3,230 cohort members with available genotype data. A total of 48 members of the cohort (1.5%) had in-hospital treated bone fractures during their first 6 years of life. Furthermore, individuals without fracture (n=3,182) were used as controls. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was performed using a frequentist association test. In the GWAS analysis, a linear regression model was fitted to test for additive effects of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; genotype dosage) adjusting for sex and performing population stratification using genotypic principal components. Using the GWAS analysis, the present study identified one locus with a significant association with fractures during childhood on chromosome 10 (rs112635931) and six loci with a suggested implication. The lead SNP rs112635931 was located near proline- and serine-rich 2 (PROSER2) antisense RNA 1 (PROSER2-AS1) and PROSER2, thus suggesting that these may be novel candidate genes associated with the risk of pediatric fractures.

Effect of soluble corn fiber supplementation for 1 year on bone metabolism in children, the MetA-bone trial: Rationale and design

Calcium intake is critical for adequate bone mineralization in adolescence, but it is usually inadequate in US adolescents. A strategy to maximize bone mineralization is to increase calcium absorption, which could be achieved by soluble corn fiber (SCF). There are no studies determining the long-term effects of SCF on bone mass in children.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the effect of one-year SCF supplementation compared to placebo on bone mass and bone biomarkers in children with low habitual calcium intake. We hypothesize that SCF supplementation will result in a higher bone mineral content and higher levels of bone formation and lower bone resorption biomarkers.

METHODS

240 healthy children (10-13 years), with usual low calcium intake, will be randomized to four experimental groups for 1 year: (1) SCF (12 g/d); (2) SCF (12 g/d) + 600 mg/d of calcium; (3) Placebo (maltodextrin); and (4) Placebo +600 mg/d of calcium. The supplements have been pre-mixed with a flavored powder beverage and participants will only need to dilute it in water and drink this twice per day. Bone will be measured using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at baseline, 6 and 12 months. Serum bone biomarkers will be measured at baseline and at 12 months.

CONCLUSIONS

If supplementing diets with SCF lead to higher bone mass during adolescence, this could help achieve the genetic potential for PBM and to start adult life with stronger bones. If successful, SCF can be incorporated into diets for promoting bone health in adolescents.

Preschool Obesity Is Associated With an Increased Risk of Childhood Fracture: A Longitudinal Cohort Study of 466,997 Children and Up to 11 Years of Follow-up in Catalonia, Spain

This study aimed to determine if having an overweight or obese range body mass index (BMI) at time of beginning school is associated with increased fracture incidence in childhood. A dynamic cohort was created from children presenting for routine preschool primary care screening, collected in the Information System for Research in Primary Care (SIDIAP) platform in Catalonia, Spain. Data were collected from 296 primary care centers representing 74% of the regional pediatric population. A total of 466,997 children (48.6% female) with a validated weight and height measurement within routine health care screening at age 4 years (±6 months) between 2006 and 2013 were included, and followed up to the age of 15, migration out of region, death, or until December 31, 2016. BMI was calculated at age 4 years and classified using WHO growth tables, and fractures were identified using previously validated ICD10 codes in electronic primary care records, divided by anatomical location. Actuarial lifetables were used to calculate cumulative incidence. Cox regression was used to investigate the association of BMI category and fracture risk with adjustment for socioeconomic status, age, sex, and nationality. Median follow-up was 4.90 years (interquartile range [IQR] 2.50 to 7.61). Cumulative incidence of any fracture during childhood was 9.20% (95% confidence interval [CI] 3.79% to 14.61%) for underweight, 10.06% (9.82% to 10.29%) for normal weight, 11.28% (10.22% to 12.35%) for overweight children, and 13.05% (10.69% to 15.41%) for children with obesity. Compared with children of normal range weight, having an overweight and obese range BMI was associated with an excess risk of lower limb fracture (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] = 1.42 [1.26 to 1.59]; 1.74 [1.46 to 2.06], respectively) and upper limb fracture (adjusted HR = 1.10 [1.03 to 1.17]; 1.19 [1.07 to 1.31]). Overall, preschool children with an overweight or obese range BMI had increased incidence of upper and lower limb fractures in childhood compared with contemporaries of normal weight. © 2020 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

Fracture risk factors among children living in New Zealand

Factures are common during childhood. There are limited data available regarding relationships between bone fracture history and calcium intake, sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs) intake, vitamin D status, physical activity (PA), ethnicity, and body composition in New Zealand (NZ) children. Identifying groups of NZ children at risk of fracture and associated predictors may help to improve bone quality during childhood and decrease the risk of fractures throughout life. The aim of this study was to investigate fracture history and associated risk factors in New Zealand children. Children aged 8-12 years were recruited. Capillary blood spots collected from a finger prick were as analyzed for 25(OH)D concentrations. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (InBody720, Seoul, Korea) was used to measure body fat percentage (%BF). Information about fracture history, siblings' history of fractures, family osteoporosis history, PA, ethnicity, and intake of calcium containing foods, and SSBs was collected using questionnaires. Children (n = 647, 354 girls), mean ± SD age 9.8 ± 0.7 years were recruited from six Auckland primary schools. NZ European (n = 252) (NZE) and South Asian (n = 68) children reported the lowest (20.2 %) and highest (44.1 %) fracture incidence, respectively. NZE compared to South Asian children, had higher 25(OH)D concentrations (74.6 ± 19.8 vs. 48.4 ± 19.3 nmol/L, P < 0.001), higher total calcium intake (764.0 ± 394.4 vs. 592.7 ± 266.3 mg/d, P < 0.018), and lower %BF (19.5 ± 6.6 vs. 23.4 ± 8.4, P < 0.003). Māori children had the next highest fracture rate (32.5 %). This group had adequate 25(OH)D (64.2 ± 18.9 nmol/L), but high %BF (23.9 %) and most participated in vigorous PA. After stratifying by sex, binary logistic regression analysis revealed the main determinants of fracture history for boys were high %BF, low 25(OH)D, low calcium intake, high SSBs consumption, siblings' fracture history, family osteoporosis history, and being South Asian; and in girls, high SSBs consumption, siblings' fracture history, and family osteoporosis history. We found South Asian ethnicity was a significant risk factor for boys. Some children were at high risk of vitamin D deficiency and for whom supplementation may be necessary in winter. Good nutrition (especially good sources of calcium and reducing SSBs intakes) should be recommended to children during growth and development to reduce their risk of fractures.

Impact of whole dairy matrix on musculoskeletal health and aging-current knowledge and research gaps

Dairy products are included in dietary guidelines worldwide, as milk, yoghurt, and cheese are good sources of calcium and protein, vital nutrients for bones and muscle mass maintenance. Bone growth and mineralization occur during infancy and childhood, peak bone mass being attained after early adulthood. A low peak bone mass has consequences later in life, including increased risk of osteoporosis and fractures. Currently, more than 200 million people worldwide suffer from osteoporosis, with approximately 9 million fractures yearly. This poses a tremendous economic burden on health care. Between 5% and 10% of the elderly suffer from sarcopenia, the loss of muscle mass and strength, further increasing the risk of fractures due to falls. Evidence from interventional and observational studies support that fermented dairy products in particular exert beneficial effects on bone growth and mineralization, attenuation of bone loss, and reduce fracture risk. The effect cannot be explained by single nutrients in dairy, which suggests that a combined or matrix effect may be responsible similar to the matrix effects of foods on cardiometabolic health. Recently, several plant-based beverages and products have become available and marketed as substitutes for dairy products, even though their nutrient content differs substantially from dairy. Some of these products have been fortified, in efforts to mimic the nutritional profile of milk, but it is unknown whether the additives have the same bioavailability and beneficial effect as dairy. We conclude that the dairy matrix exerts an effect on bone and muscle health that is more than the sum of its nutrients, and we suggest that whole foods, not only single nutrients, need to be assessed in future observational and intervention studies of health outcomes. Furthermore, the importance of the matrix effect on health outcomes argues in favor of making future dietary guidelines food based.

The Bones of Children With Obesity

Excess adiposity in childhood may affect bone development, ultimately leading to bone frailty. Previous reports showing an increased rate of extremity fractures in children with obesity support this fear. On the other hand, there is also evidence suggesting that bone mineral content is higher in obese children than in normal weight peers. Both adipocytes and osteoblasts derive from multipotent mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and obesity drives the differentiation of MSCs toward adipocytes at the expense of osteoblast differentiation. Furthermore, adipocytes in bone marrow microenvironment release a number of pro-inflammatory and immunomodulatory molecules that up-regulate formation and activation of osteoclasts, thus favoring bone frailty. On the other hand, body adiposity represents a mechanical load, which is beneficial for bone accrual. In this frame, bone quality, and structure result from the balance of inflammatory and mechanical stimuli. Diet, physical activity and the hormonal milieu at puberty play a pivotal role on this balance. In this review, we will address the question whether the bone of obese children and adolescents is unhealthy in comparison with normal-weight peers and discuss mechanisms underlying the differences in bone quality and structure. We anticipate that many biases and confounders affect the clinical studies conducted so far and preclude us from achieving robust conclusions. Sample-size, lack of adequate controls, heterogeneity of study designs are the major drawbacks of the existing reports. Due to the increased body size of children with obesity, dual energy absorptiometry might overestimate bone mineral density in these individuals. Magnetic resonance imaging, peripheral quantitative CT (pQCT) scanning and high-resolution pQCT are promising techniques for the accurate estimate of bone mineral content in obese children. Moreover, no longitudinal study on the risk of incident osteoporosis in early adulthood of children and adolescents with obesity is available. Finally, we will address emerging dietary issues (i.e., the likely benefits for the bone health of polyunsaturated fatty acids and polyphenols) since an healthy diet (i.e., the Mediterranean diet) with balanced intake of certain nutrients associated with physical activity remain the cornerstones for achieving an adequate bone accrual in young individuals regardless of their adiposity degree.

The role of PPARγ in childhood obesity-induced fractures

Globally, obesity is on the rise with ~ 30% of the world’s population now obese, and childhood obesity is following similar trends. Childhood obesity has been associated with numerous chronic conditions, including musculoskeletal disorders. This review highlights the effects of childhood adiposity on bone density by way of analyzing clinical studies and further describing two severe skeletal conditions, slipped capital femoral epiphysis and Blount’s disease. The latter half of this review discusses bone remodeling and cell types that mediate bone growth and strength, including key growth factors and transcription factors that help orchestrate this complex pathology. In particular, the transcriptional factor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) is examined as it is a master regulator of adipocyte differentiation in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that can also influence osteoblast populations. Obese individuals are known to have higher levels of PPARγ expression which contributes to their increased adipocyte numbers and decreased bone density. Modulating PPAR*gamma* signaling can have significant effects on adipogenesis, thereby directing MSCs down the osteoblastogenesis pathway and in turn increasing bone mineral density. Lastly, we explore the potential of PPARγ as a druggable target to decrease adiposity, increase bone density, and be a treatment for children with obesity-induced bone fractures.

The Utility of DXA Assessment at the Forearm, Proximal Femur, and Lateral Distal Femur, and Vertebral Fracture Assessment in the Pediatric Population: 2019 ISCD Official Position

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is widely used in the evaluation of bone fragility in children. Previous recommendations emphasized total body less head and lumbar spine DXA scans for clinical bone health assessment. However, these scan sites may not be possible or optimal for all groups of children with conditions that threaten bone health. The utility of DXA scans of the proximal femur, forearm, and radius were evaluated for adequacy of reference data, precision, ability of predict fracture, and applicability to all, or select groups of children. In addition, the strengths and limitations of vertebral fracture assessment by DXA were evaluated. The new Pediatric Positions provide guidelines on the use of these additional measures in the assessment of skeletal health in children.

Mechanical Competence and Bone Quality Develop During Skeletal Growth

Bone fracture risk is influenced by bone quality, which encompasses bone's composition as well as its multiscale organization and architecture. Aging and disease deteriorate bone quality, leading to reduced mechanical properties and higher fracture incidence. Largely unexplored is how bone quality and mechanical competence progress during longitudinal bone growth. Human femoral cortical bone was acquired from fetal (n = 1), infantile (n = 3), and 2- to 14-year-old cases (n = 4) at the mid-diaphysis. Bone quality was assessed in terms of bone structure, osteocyte characteristics, mineralization, and collagen orientation. The mechanical properties were investigated by measuring tensile deformation at multiple length scales via synchrotron X-ray diffraction. We find dramatic differences in mechanical resistance with age. Specifically, cortical bone in 2- to 14-year-old cases exhibits a 160% greater stiffness and 83% higher strength than fetal/infantile cases. The higher mechanical resistance of the 2- to 14-year-old cases is associated with advantageous bone quality, specifically higher bone volume fraction, better micronscale organization (woven versus lamellar), and higher mean mineralization compared with fetal/infantile cases. Our study reveals that bone quality is superior after remodeling/modeling processes convert the primary woven bone structure to lamellar bone. In this cohort of female children, the microstructural differences at the femoral diaphysis were apparent between the 1- to 2-year-old cases. Indeed, the lamellar bone in 2- to 14-year-old cases had a superior structural organization (collagen and osteocyte characteristics) and composition for resisting deformation and fracture than fetal/infantile bone. Mechanistically, the changes in bone quality during longitudinal bone growth lead to higher fracture resistance because collagen fibrils are better aligned to resist tensile forces, while elevated mean mineralization reinforces the collagen scaffold. Thus, our results reveal inherent weaknesses of the fetal/infantile skeleton signifying its inferior bone quality. These results have implications for pediatric fracture risk, as bone produced at ossification centers during children's longitudinal bone growth could display similarly weak points. © 2019 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

Femoral stress is prominently associated with fracture risk in children: The Generation R Study

Bone modeling is an important process in the growing skeleton. An inadequate bone modeling in response to mechanical loads would lead some children to develop weaker bones than others. The resulting higher stresses in the bones would render them more susceptible to fracture. We aimed to examine the association between femoral stress (FS) derived from structural parameters and BMD in relation to incident fractures in children. Bone stress was evaluated at the medial femoral neck, a skeletal site subject to large forces during normal locomotion. This study comprises 1840 children from the Generation R Study, with whole body and hip DXA scans at a mean age of 6.01 years. Hip structural analysis (HSA) was used to measure femur geometry for the FS calculation. Data on fractures occurring over the following 4 years after the DXA assessment were obtained by questionnaire. Incident fracture was observed in 7.6% of the participating children. Cox-multivariate regression analysis, described as hazard ratios (HR), showed that after adjustment for sex, ethnicity, age, weight and lean mass fraction, there was a significant increase in the risk of incident fracture for every standard deviation (SD) decrease in total body BMD (HR: 1.35, 95% CI 1.05-1.74, p-value = 0.021), femoral neck BMD (HR: 1.31, 95% CI 1.09-1.58, p-value = 0.005) and narrow neck BMD (HR: 1.39, 95% CI 1.14-1.68, p-value = 0.001). Whereas, every increment of one SD in femoral stress resulted in 1.33 increased risk of incident fractures (HR: 1.33, 95% CI 1.13-1.57, p-value = 0.001). This association remained (borderline) significant after the adjustment for DXA derived BMD measurements. Our results show that increased bone stress may underlie greater susceptibility to traumatic fractures in children (partially independent of BMD) and underscore the utility of hip DXA scans for the assessment of paediatric bone health and specifically fracture risk.

The Impact of Childhood Obesity on Skeletal Health and Development

Increased risk of fracture identified in obese children has led to a focus on the relationship between fat, bone, and the impact of obesity during skeletal development. Early studies have suggested that despite increased fracture risk, obese children have a higher bone mass. However, body size corrections applied to account for wide variations in size between children led to the finding that obese children have a lower total body and regional bone mass relative to their body size. Advances in skeletal imaging have shifted the focus from quantity of bone in obese children to evaluating the changes in bone microarchitecture that result in a change in bone quality and strength. The findings suggest that bone strength in the appendicular skeleton does not appropriately adapt to an increase in body size which results in a mismatch between bone strength and force from falls. Recent evidence points to differing influences of fat compartments on skeletal development-visceral fat may have a negative impact on bone which may be related to the associated adverse metabolic environment, while marrow adipose tissue may have an independent effect on trabecular bone development in obese children. The role of brown fat has received recent attention, demonstrating differences in the influence on bone mass between white and brown adipose tissues. Obesity results in a shift in growth and pubertal hormones as well as influences bone development through the altered release of adipokines. The change in the hormonal milieu provides an important insight into the skeletal changes observed in childhood obesity.

Mechanisms Involved in Childhood Obesity-Related Bone Fragility

Childhood obesity is one of the major health problems in western countries. The excessive accumulation of adipose tissue causes inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and mitochondrial dysfunctions. Thus, obesity leads to the development of severe co-morbidities including type 2 diabetes mellitus, liver steatosis, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative diseases which can develop early in life. Furthermore, obese children have low bone mineral density and a greater risk of osteoporosis and fractures. The knowledge about the interplay bone tissue and between adipose is still growing, although recent findings suggest that adipose tissue activity on bone can be fat-depot specific. Obesity is associated to a low-grade inflammation that alters the expression of adiponectin, leptin, IL-6, Monocyte Chemotactic Protein 1 (MCP1), TRAIL, LIGHT/TNFSF14, OPG, and TNFα. These molecules can affect bone metabolism, thus resulting in osteoporosis. The purpose of this review was to deepen the cellular mechanisms by which obesity may facilitate osteoporosis and bone fractures.

Dieting is associated with reduced bone mineral accrual in a longitudinal cohort of girls

BACKGROUND

Peak bone mass accrual occurs during adolescence, a time when dieting and related eating behaviors are common. Impaired bone mineral accrual is a known consequence of eating disorders in adolescents, but the effects of subclinical dieting behaviors on bone mineral content (BMC) have not been described in this age group. The goal of this analysis was to determine whether dieting behavior in preadolescence and adolescence is associated with bone mineral accrual in adolescent girls.

METHODS

Non-Hispanic white girls (n = 139) were followed in a longitudinal cohort study. BMC was assessed at ages 9 and 15y. Dieting to lose weight was reported every 2 years, and dietary restraint and disinhibition, eating attitudes, weight concerns, and body esteem were assessed at age 11y. Girls were classified as "early dieters" if they first dieted by age 11y (31.7%), "adolescent dieters" if they first dieted after 11y (46.8%), or non-dieters if they did not report dieting by 15 y (21.6%). The effect of dieting related variables on BMC at 15y and change in BMC from 9 to 15y was assessed using linear regression, controlling for height, weight, BMI, physical activity, and pubertal status.

RESULTS

Girls who first reported dieting to lose weight by age 11y had a 4.2% lower bone mineral accrual across adolescence (p = 0.02) and 3.1% lower BMC at age 15y (p = 0.005) than girls who first reported dieting after 11y or not at all. Number of weight control behaviors used, dietary restraint, and weight concerns were also negatively associated with BMC (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Dieting behavior in preadolescence is associated with reduced bone mineral accrual. Strategies to promote optimal bone development should include prevention of dieting.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03342430, November 17, 2017. Retrospectively registered.

Incident fracture is associated with a period of accelerated loss of hip BMD: the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures

Bone loss following a fracture could increase the risk of future fractures. In this study, we found that elderly women who had an upper body fracture or multiple fractures lost more bone at the hip than those who did not fracture. This suggests a possible systemic bone loss response initiated by fracture.

INTRODUCTION

A prior fracture is one of the strongest predictors of subsequent fracture risk, but the etiology of this phenomenon remains unclear. Systemic bone loss post-fracture could contribute to increased risk of subsequent fractures. Therefore, in this study, we investigated whether incident fractures, including those distant to the hip, are associated with accelerated loss of hip bone mineral density (BMD) in elderly women.

METHODS

We analyzed data from 3956 Caucasian women aged ≥ 65 years who were enrolled in the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures and completed hip BMD measurements at study visit 4 (year 6) and visit 6 (year 10). Clinical fractures between visits 4 and 6 were ascertained from triannual questionnaires and centrally adjudicated by review of community radiographic reports. Subjects provided questionnaire information and clinical variables at examinations for known and potential covariates. Generalized linear models were used to calculate average annual percent change in total hip BMD between visits 4 and 6 for each incident fracture type and for upper body and lower body fractures combined. A subset of women (n = 3783) was analyzed for annual total hip BMD change between study visits 4 and 5 and between study visits 5 and 6 to evaluate change in total hip BMD during these 2-year intervals.

RESULTS

Women with incident upper body fracture or incident lower body fracture exhibited reductions in total hip BMD of 0.89 and 0.77% per year, respectively, while women who did not fracture exhibited reductions in total hip BMD of 0.66% per year during the 4-year period. Accelerated loss of hip BMD was isolated to the 2-year time interval that included the fracture. Loss of total hip BMD was not affected by the number of days from fracture to follow up DXA.

CONCLUSIONS

Systemic bone loss following fracture may increase the risk of future fractures at all skeletal sites. There is a need for improved understanding of mechanisms leading to apparent accelerated bone loss following a fracture in order to reduce subsequent fracture risk.

Intramedullary nailing of forearm shaft fractures by biodegradable compared with titanium nails: Results of a prospective randomized trial in children with at least two years of follow-up

There are disadvantages in Elastic Stable Intramedullary Nailing (ESIN) of forearm-shaft fractures, such as the need of implant removal. Biodegradable Intramedullary Nailing (BIN) is a new technique developed for these fractures. We hypothesized that there is no difference in rotational ROM between the patients treated by BIN vs. ESIN. A randomized, controlled clinical trial included patients, aged 5-15 years, requiring surgery for forearm-shaft fractures. Biodegradable polylactide-co-glycolide (PLGA) nails (Activa IM-Nail™, Bioretec Ltd., Finland) were used in 19 and titanium nails (TEN^®, SynthesDePuy Ltd., USA) in 16 patients. Rotational ROM of forearm after two years was the primary outcome. Elbow and wrist ROM, pain and radiographic bone healing were secondary outcomes. Forearm rotation was mean 162° and 151° in BIN and ESIN groups, respectively (P = 0.201). No difference between the groups was found in any other ROMs. Three cases in the ESIN vs. none in the BIN group reported pain (P = 0.113). There was no clinically significant residual angulation in radiographs. Two adolescents in the BIN group vs. none in the ESIN (P = 0.245) were excluded because of implant failure; another two with complete bone union suffered from re-injury. Therefore, satisfactory implant stability among older children needs to be studied.

Evaluation of a Free Milk in Schools Program in New Zealand: Effects on Children's Milk Consumption and Anthropometrics

BACKGROUND

While dietary sources of calcium are important for bone health, the intake of milk and milk products decreases as children get older. A free milk in schools program may mitigate this decrease in milk consumption. We evaluated the Fonterra Milk for schools program (a free milk initiative) by determining changes in children's milk consumption and anthropometric measures over a 2-year period.

METHODS

The evaluation was conducted in children aged 7-9 years in a representative sample of primary schools participating in the free milk program, in Auckland, New Zealand. The primary outcome was the proportion of children meeting the New Zealand guidelines for dairy and milk product consumption over 7 days (≥2 servings per day). Changes in anthropometric measures were also assessed as secondary outcomes.

RESULTS

Nine schools (N = 511 children) participated in the evaluation. The proportion of children meeting the New Zealand guidelines for milk and milk product consumption over 7 days increased significantly from baseline to 2 years' follow-up (72% vs 94%; p < .001). Body mass index z scores did not change significantly between baseline and 2 years' follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

The Fonterra Milk for Schools initiative appears to be an effective way of increasing milk/milk product consumption behaviors in school-aged children.

Fat and bone in children - where are we now?

The risk of fracture secondary to low-impact trauma is greater in obese children, suggesting obese children are at risk of skeletal fragility. However, despite this finding, there is a lack of agreement about the impact of excessive adiposity on skeletal development. The combination of poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, greater force generated on impact through falls, and greater propensity to falls may in part explain the increased risk of fracture in obese children. To date, evidence suggests that in early childhood years, obesity confers a structural advantage to the developing skeleton. However, in time, this relationship attenuates and then reverses, such that there is a critical period during skeletal development when obesity has a detrimental effect on skeletal structure and strength. Fat mass may be important to the developing cortical and trabecular bone compartments, provided that gains in fat mass are not excessive. However, when fat accumulation reaches excessive levels, unfavorable metabolic changes may impede skeletal development. Evidence from studies examining bone microstructure suggests skeletal adaption to excessive load fails, and bone strength is relatively diminished in relation to body size in obese children. Mechanisms that may explain these changes include changes in the hormonal environment, particularly in relation to alterations in adipokines and fat distribution. Given the concomitant rise in the prevalence of childhood obesity and fractures, as well as adult osteoporosis, further work is required to understand the relationship between obesity and skeletal development.

Bone Strength in Girls and Boys After a Distal Radius Fracture: A 2-Year HR-pQCT Double Cohort Study

We recently reported impaired bone strength in girls with low- to moderate-energy distal radius fractures (Fx) compared with girls with no history of forearm fractures (Non-Fx). We aimed to determine whether bone strength deficits observed at baseline were still present after 2 years. We assessed bone strength, microarchitecture, and bone mineral density (BMD) of the non-fractured (Fx) and non-dominant (Non-Fx) distal radius (7% site) at baseline, 12, and 24 months using high-resolution pQCT (Scanco Medical, Brüttisellen, Switzerland) in 104 girls (aged 11.0 ± 1.7 years; 47 Fx, 57 Non-Fx) and 157 boys (aged 12.7 ± 1.7 years; 86 Fx, 71 Non-Fx). Bone outcomes included total area (Tt.Ar) and bone mineral density (Tt.BMD), trabecular bone volume ratio (BV/TV), thickness (Tb.Th), separation (Tb.Sp), and number (Tb.N), and cortical BMD (Ct.BMD), thickness (Ct.Th), and porosity (Ct.Po). We used finite element analysis to estimate bone strength (failure load [F.Load]; ultimate stress [U.Stress]; load-to-strength ratio). We used sex-specific mixed-effects models to compare bone outcomes between Fx and Non-Fx over 2 years. In girls, those with fractures had 18% to 24% lower U.Stress and 5% to 9% lower Tt.BMD than Non-Fx at all time points (p < 0.017). In secondary analysis by fracture degree, girls with low-energy (LE) fractures had 19% to 21% lower F.Load, 25% to 47% lower U.Stress, 11% to 14% lower Tt.BMD, and 11% to 15% lower BV/TV than Non-Fx at all time points (p < 0.017). In contrast, boys' bone outcomes were similar between Fx and Non-Fx at all time points. In secondary analysis by fracture degree, boys with LE fractures had 10% lower Tt.BMD and 10% lower Ct.Th compared with Non-Fx at 12 months only. Deficits in distal radius bone strength and trabecular bone microarchitecture appear to track across 2 years after a forearm fracture in girls but not in boys. Longer follow-up is needed to determine whether deficits persist into adulthood in women and how they may influence future risk of fragility fracture. © 2017 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

The association between childhood fractures and adolescence bone outcomes: a population-based study, the Tromsø Study, Fit Futures

Childhood fracture may predict persistent skeletal fragility, but it may also reflect high physical activity which is beneficial to bone development. We observe a difference in the relationship between previous fracture and bone outcome across physical activity level and sex. Further elaboration on this variation is needed.

PURPOSE

Childhood fracture may be an early marker of skeletal fragility, or increased levels of physical activity (PA), which are beneficial for bone mineral accrual. This study investigated the association between a previous history of childhood fracture and adolescent bone mineral outcomes by various PA levels.

METHODS

We recruited 469 girls and 492 boys aged 15-18 years to this study. We assessed PA levels by questionnaire and measured areal bone mineral density (aBMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at arm, femoral neck (FN), total hip (TH), and total body (TB) and calculated bone mineral apparent density (BMAD, g/cm³). Fractures from birth to time of DXA measurements were retrospectively recorded. We analyzed differences among participants with and without fractures using independent sample t test. Multiple linear regression was used to examine the association between fractures and aBMD and BMC measurements according to adolescent PA.

RESULTS

Girls with and without a previous history of fracture had similar BMC, aBMD, and BMAD at all sites. In multiple regression analyses stratified by physical activity intensity (PAi), there was a significant negative association between fracture and aBMD-TH and BMC-FN yet only in girls reporting low PAi. There was a significant negative association between forearm fractures, BMAD-FN, and BMAD-arm among vigorously active boys.

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicate a negative association between childhood fractures and aBMD/BMC in adolescent girls reporting low PAi. In boys, such an association appears only in vigorously active participants with a history of forearm fractures.

Does vitamin D supplementation improve bone density in vitamin D-deficient children? Protocol for an individual patient data meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Our previous study-level (aggregate data) meta-analysis suggested that vitamin D supplements may be beneficial for bone density specifically in children with vitamin D deficiency. However, the misclassification of vitamin D status inherent in study-level data means that the results are not definitive and cannot provide an accurate assessment of the size of any effect. Therefore, we propose to undertake an individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis to determine whether the effect of vitamin D supplementation on bone density in children differs according to baseline vitamin D status, and to specifically estimate the effect of vitamin D in children who are vitamin D deficient.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This study has been designed to adhere to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses of IPD statement. We will include randomised placebo-controlled trials of vitamin D supplementation reporting bone density outcomes at least 6 months after the study commenced in children and adolescents (aged <20 years) without coexistent medical conditions or treatments causing osteoporosis. We will update the search of the original review to cover the period 2009-2017, using the same methods as the original review. Fully anonymised data on all randomised patients will be requested. Outcomes will be femoral neck, total hip, lumbar spine and proximal and distal forearm bone mineral density, and total body bone mineral content. A two-stage IPD meta-analysis will be used to examine the effect of baseline serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) on treatment effect for each bone density outcome. Restricted maximum likelihood will be used to estimate the random-effects meta-analysis models, with 95% CI for summary effects. Heterogeneity will be assessed by I2 and potential publication bias (small-study effects) and availability bias by funnel plots, Egger's test and Peter's test.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethics approval will not be required as the data are to be used for the primary purpose for which they were collected and all original individual studies had ethics approval. Results of the IPD meta-analysis will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42017068772.

Fracture Prospectively Recorded From Prepuberty to Young Adulthood: Are They Markers of Peak Bone Mass and Strength in Males?

Fractures are common in otherwise healthy children and adolescents. They result from trauma of varying severity. Some reflect a greater skeletal fragility. A long-term implication of these fractures is their potentiality to predict adult bone fragility and increased risk of osteoporosis in later life. Using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT), and micro-finite element analysis (μFEA) measurements, we previously found in 124 healthy females, followed from the age of 7.9 to 20.4 years, substantial deficits in both structural and strength components of the radius in the 42 girls who sustained a fracture during skeletal development. The objective of the current study was to assess in healthy males the relationship between fracture during development and expression of bone fragility in adulthood. A cohort of 152 boys was followed from age 7.4 ± 04 (mean ± SD) to 22.6 ± 0.7 years, ie, when peak bone mass is attained. Ninety participants (59.2%) sustained at least one fracture during growth, with highest incidence within the 10- to 13-year age range. Forearm was the most frequent site of fractures. At 7.4 years, several bone DXA-measured variables (areal bone mineral density [aBMD], bone mineral content [BMC]) were lower in the group with a positive fracture history during skeletal development compared with the non-fractured group. In contrast, at 22.6 years, no DXA-measured sites, including forearm, indicated a deficit in the fractured group compared with the non-fractured group. Likewise, at 22.6 years, neither HR-pQCT nor μFEA measurements, including distal radius, showed a structural or strength deficit in the fractured group. These results markedly contrast with a similar prospective study using the same technical and clinical design in 124 healthy girls. In conclusion, our prospective studies suggest a sex difference in the predictability of bone fragility in young adults who sustained fractures during childhood and adolescence. This difference might be related to the degree of trauma severity, usually lower in girls than in boys. © 2017 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

Maternal smoking during pregnancy is associated with childhood bone fractures in offspring - A birth-cohort study of 6718 children

In children there is limited understanding about the biological and environmental risk factors of fractures. Therefore, we aimed to study the effect of maternal smoking on preschool children's fractures hypothesizing that the fracture risk might be programmed during intrauterine growth in means of disturbed bone formation. A prospective birth cohort included women living in Northern Finland with an expected date of delivery between July 1st, 1985 and June 30th, 1986 (N=9362), and their offspring (N=9432). Smoking was inquired during pregnancy and when the offspring reached seven years of age. Information on in-hospital-treated fractures among the children was collected from the National Hospital Discharge Register (NHDR). The cases who declined to participate or suffered from any bone dysplasia such as osteogenesis imperfecta or any malignancy were excluded, thus 6718 subjects (71.2%) were finally included. Poisson regression analysis with adjustment for gender, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, socioeconomic status of the family, maternal age and body mass index (BMI) of the children was used to determine the association between maternal smoking during pregnancy and bone fractures. Maternal smoking during pregnancy was associated with a 1.83-fold (95% CI 1.06-3.02, p=0.022) increased risk of in-hospital-treated fractures at pre-school age. The fracture risk in childhood is perhaps increased as a result of modified bone development of the fetus due to maternal smoking.

Prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in children with forearm fractures

PURPOSE

This study aimed to determine whether children with distal radius impaction fractures have increased prevalence of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH) D) insufficiency compared with healthy controls.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This is a prospective controlled study. The 30 children who were diagnosed with forearm fracture at the orthopaedic emergency clinic were included in the study and 30 healthy children from the routine paediatric outpatient unit were included as the control group. Peripheric venous 25(OH) D, calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), phosphor (P), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) of both groups were recorded. The sample size was estimated based on the effect size for a type I error of 5% and power of 80%.

RESULTS

Demographic characteristics of the two groups did not differ in terms of weekly physical activity levels and breast milk intake. The mean whole body BMI was similar in both groups of patients. History of previous fracture and 25(OH) D level were significantly lower in the patient group than the control group.

CONCLUSION

In the present study, the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency was higher in patients with forearm impaction type fractures than healthy controls and the baseline levels reported in the literature. In addition, there were no significant differences in serum Ca, Mg, P, ALP and PTH levels between the healthy controls and the patient group.

The Impact of Fat and Obesity on Bone Microarchitecture and Strength in Children

A complex interplay of genetic, environmental, hormonal, and behavioral factors affect skeletal development, several of which are associated with childhood fractures. Given the rise in obesity worldwide, it is of particular concern that excess fat accumulation during childhood appears to be a risk factor for fractures. Plausible explanations for this higher fracture risk include a greater propensity for falls, greater force generation upon fall impact, unhealthy lifestyle habits, and excessive adipose tissue that may have direct or indirect detrimental effects on skeletal development. To date, there remains little resolution or agreement about the impact of obesity and adiposity on skeletal development as well as the mechanisms underpinning these changes. Limitations of imaging modalities, short duration of follow-up in longitudinal studies, and differences among cohorts examined may all contribute to conflicting results. Nonetheless, a linear relationship between increasing adiposity and skeletal development seems unlikely. Fat mass may confer advantages to the developing cortical and trabecular bone compartments, provided that gains in fat mass are not excessive. However, when fat mass accumulation reaches excessive levels, unfavorable metabolic changes may impede skeletal development. Mechanisms underpinning these changes may relate to changes in the hormonal milieu, with adipokines potentially playing a central role, but again findings have been confounding. Changes in the relationship between fat and bone also appear to be age and sex dependent. Clearly, more work is needed to better understand the controversial impact of fat and obesity on skeletal development and fracture risk during childhood.

Bone Density in the Obese Child: Clinical Considerations and Diagnostic Challenges

The prevalence of obesity in children has reached epidemic proportions. Concern about bone health in obese children, in part, derives from the potentially increased fracture risk associated with obesity. Additional risk factors that affect bone mineral accretion, may also contribute to obesity, such as low physical activity and nutritional factors. Consequences of obesity, such as inflammation, insulin resistance, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, may also affect bone mineral acquisition, especially during the adolescent years when rapid increases in bone contribute to attaining peak bone mass. Further, numerous pediatric health conditions are associated with excess adiposity, altered body composition, or endocrine disturbances that can affect bone accretion. Thus, there is a multitude of reasons for considering clinical assessment of bone health in an obese child. Multiple diagnostic challenges affect the measurement of bone density and its interpretation. These include greater precision error, difficulty in positioning, and the effects of increased lean and fat tissue on bone health outcomes. Future research is required to address these issues to improve bone health assessment in obese children.

Interventions to prevent and treat corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis and prevent osteoporotic fractures in Duchenne muscular dystrophy

BACKGROUND

Corticosteroid treatment is considered the 'gold standard' for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD); however, it is also known to induce osteoporosis and thus increase the risk of vertebral fragility fractures. Good practice in the care of those with DMD requires prevention of these adverse effects. Treatments to increase bone mineral density include bisphosphonates and vitamin D and calcium supplements, and in adolescents with pubertal delay, testosterone. Bone health management is an important part of lifelong care for patients with DMD.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effects of interventions to prevent or treat osteoporosis in children and adults with DMD taking long-term corticosteroids; to assess the effects of these interventions on the frequency of vertebral fragility fractures and long-bone fractures, and on quality of life; and to assess adverse events.

SEARCH METHODS

On 12 September 2016, we searched the Cochrane Neuromuscular Specialised Register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, and CINAHL Plus to identify potentially eligible trials. We also searched the Web of Science ISI Proceedings (2001 to September 2016) and three clinical trials registries to identify unpublished studies and ongoing trials. We contacted correspondence authors of the included studies in the review to obtain information on unpublished studies or work in progress.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We considered for inclusion in the review randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs involving any bone health intervention for corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis and fragility fractures in children, adolescents, and adults with a confirmed diagnosis of DMD. The interventions might have included oral and intravenous bisphosphonates, vitamin D supplements, calcium supplements, dietary calcium, testosterone, and weight-bearing activity.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently assessed reports and selected potential studies for inclusion, following standard Cochrane methodology. We contacted study authors to obtain further information for clarification on published work, unpublished studies, and work in progress.

MAIN RESULTS

We identified 18 potential studies, of which two, currently reported only as abstracts, met the inclusion criteria for this review. Too little information was available for us to present full results or adequately assess risk of bias. The participants were children aged five to 15 years with DMD, ambulant and non-ambulant. The interventions were risedronate versus no treatment in one trial (13 participants) and whole-body vibration versus a placebo device in the second (21 participants). Both studies reported improved bone mineral density with the active treatments, with no improvement in the control groups, but the abstracts did not compare treatment and control conditions. All children tolerated whole-body vibration treatment. No study provided information on adverse events. Two studies are ongoing: one investigating whole-body vibration, the other investigating zoledronic acid.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

We know of no high-quality evidence from RCTs to guide use of treatments to prevent or treat corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis and reduce the risk of fragility fractures in children and adults with DMD; only limited results from two trials reported in abstracts were available. We await formal trial reports. Findings from two ongoing relevant studies and two trials, for which only abstracts are available, will be important in future updates of this review.

Reference values for digital X-ray radiogrammetry parameters in children and adolescents in comparison to estimates in patients with distal radius fractures

The first objective of this study was to determine normative digital X-ray radiogrammetry (DXR) values, based on original digital images, in a pediatric population (aged 6-18 years). The second aim was to compare these reference data with patients suffering from distal radius fractures, whereas both cohorts originated from the same geographical region and were evaluated using the same technical parameters as well as inclusion and exclusion criteria. DXR-BMD and DXR-MCI of the metacarpal bones II-IV were assessed on standardized digital hand radiographs, without printing or scanning procedures. DXR parameters were estimated separately by gender and among six age groups; values in the fracture group were compared to age- and gender-matched normative data using Student's t tests and Z scores. In the reference cohort (150 boys, 138 girls), gender differences were found in bone mineral density (DXR-BMD), with higher values for girls from 11 to 14 years and for boys from 15 to 18 years (p < 0.05). Girls had higher normative metacarpal index (DXR-MCI) values than boys, with significant differences at 11-14 years (p < 0.05). In the case-control investigation, the fracture group (95 boys, 69 girls) presented lower DXR-BMD at 15-18 years in boys and 13-16 years in girls vs. the reference cohort (p < 0.05); DXR-MCI was lower at 11-18 years in boys and 11-16 years in girls (p < 0.05). Mean Z scores in the fracture group for DXR-BMD were -0.42 (boys) and -0.46 (girls), and for DXR-MCI were -0.51 (boys) and -0.53 (girls). These findings indicate that the fully digital DXR technique can be accurately applied in pediatric populations ≥ 6 years of age. The lower DXR-BMD and DXR-MCI values in the fracture group suggest promising early identification of individuals with increased fracture risk, without the need for additional radiation exposure, enabling the initiation of prevention strategies to possibly reduce the incidence of osteoporosis later in life.

The Association Between Weight Status and Pediatric Forearm Fractures Resulting From Ground-Level Falls

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of our study was to evaluate the hypothesis that pediatric forearm fractures resulting from ground-level falls are associated with increased weight status (weight for age/sex percentile ≥ 95th) in comparison with those resulting from major trauma.

METHODS

This is a retrospective case-control study nested within a case series of 929 children, ages 0 to 17 years, with self-identified residence in Washington, DC, who were treated for isolated forearm fractures in an urban, academic pediatric emergency department between 2003 and 2006. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to test for the association of weight status with mechanism of injury while controlling for sex, age, race/ethnicity, bone fractured, and season.

RESULTS

Of 929 forearm fractures, there were 226 (24.3%) with ground-level falls and 54 (5.8%) with major trauma. Compared with children with forearm fractures resulting from major trauma, ground-level fall cases were significantly older (10.4 [3.4] vs 7.4 [4.2] years, P < 0.05), had greater adjusted odds of having a weight for age/sex of 95th percentile or higher (odds ratio, 2.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-6.5), and had significantly more radius-only fractures (odds ratio, 2.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-4.7). These groups did not differ in sex, race/ethnicity, or injury season.

CONCLUSIONS

Ground-level falls are a common mechanism of pediatric forearm fracture and are significantly associated with increased weight status and radius-only fractures. These results suggest the need for further investigation into obesity and bone health in pediatric patients with forearm fractures caused by ground-level falls.

Trabecular bone loss at a distant skeletal site following noninvasive knee injury in mice

Traumatic injuries can have systemic consequences, as the early inflammatory response after trauma can lead to tissue destruction at sites not affected by the initial injury. This systemic catabolism may occur in the skeleton following traumatic injuries such as anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture. However, bone loss following injury at distant,unrelated skeletal sites has not yet been established. In the current study, we utilized a mouse knee injury model to determine whether acute knee injury causes a mechanically significant trabecular bone loss at a distant, unrelated skeletal site (L5 vertebral body).Knee injury was noninvasively induced using either high-speed (HS; 500 mm/s) or lowspeed(LS; 1 mm/s) tibial compression overload. HS injury creates an ACL rupture by midsubstance tear, while LS injury creates an ACL rupture with an associated avulsion bone fracture. At 10 days post-injury, vertebral trabecular bone structure was quantified using high-resolution microcomputed tomography (lCT), and differences in mechanical properties were determined using finite element modeling (FEM) and compressive mechanical testing. We hypothesized that knee injury would initiate a loss of trabecular bone structure and strength at the L5 vertebral body. Consistent with our hypothesis, we found significant decreases in trabecular bone volume fraction (BV/TV) and trabecular number at the L5 vertebral body in LS injured mice compared to sham (8.8% and 5.0%, respectively), while HS injured mice exhibited a similar, but lower magnitude response (5.1% and 2.5%, respectively). Contrary to our hypothesis, this decrease intrabecular bone structure did not translate to a significant deficit in compressive stiffness or ultimate load of the full trabecular body assessed by mechanical testing or FEM. However,we were able to detect significant decreases in compressive stiffness in both HS and LS injured specimens when FE models were loaded directly through the trabecular bone region (9.9% and 8.1%, and 3, respectively). This finding may be particularly important for osteoporotic fracture risk, as damage within vertebral bodies has been shown to initiate within the trabecular bone compartment. Altogether, these data point to a systemic trabecular bone loss as a consequence of fracture or traumatic musculoskeletal injury, which may be an underlying mechanism contributing to increased risk of refracture following an initial injury. This finding may have consequences for treatment of acute musculoskeletal injuries and the prevention of future bone fragility.

Nutrient and food intakes in early life and risk of childhood fractures: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The identification of detrimental dietary patterns early in life may contribute to reducing the high incidence of fracture among healthy children. However, information based on a systematic review of the effect of various dietary foods and nutrients on fracture risk is lacking.

OBJECTIVE

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies that examined the association between dietary intake or serum nutritional concentrations and childhood fractures.

DESIGN

Studies published up until June 2015 were identified on the basis of a literature search in Medline, Web of Science, and Scopus databases and by hand searching references by first author based on predefined inclusion criteria. A meta-analysis was carried out for case-control studies that examined differences in mean calcium intake in the case compared with the control group. Random-effects analysis was performed on the basis of the effect estimates derived as the differences in mean calcium intakes between cases and controls.

RESULTS

From a total of 1960 articles, we identified 18 observational studies, which were primarily case-control in design. Randomized controlled trials were absent, potentially because of unethical aspects related to the enrollment of children randomly assigned to certain dietary exposures and later fracture rates. Overall, fracture risk seemed to be associated with milk avoidance, high energy intake, high cheese intake, high intake of sugar-sweetened beverages, and no breastfeeding. The pooled effect size of the 9 case-control studies that examined mean calcium intake, which had appropriate data for the meta-analysis, showed no association (P = 0.99) with fair heterogeneity (I(2) = 69.3%, P = 0.001) with the use of the random-effects model.

CONCLUSIONS

On the basis of a systematic review of studies that were judged to be of high or medium quality, there is an indication that some nutritional factors seem to be associated with an increased fracture risk among children. The results may be inflated by selection bias, bias in diet reporting, or residual confounding. More high-quality longitudinal observational or intervention studies are needed on the subject.

Childhood obesity, bone development, and cardiometabolic risk factors

Osteoporosis and obesity are both major public health concerns. It has long been considered that these are distinct disorders rarely found in the same individual; however, emerging evidence supports an important interaction between adipose tissue and the skeleton. Whereas overweight per se may augment bone strength, animal studies suggest that the metabolic impairment that accompanies obesity is detrimental to bone. Obesity during childhood, a critical time for bone development, likely has profound and lasting effects on bone strength and fracture risk. This notion has received little attention in children and results are mixed, with studies reporting that bone strength development is enhanced or impaired by obesity. Whether obesity is a risk factor for osteoporosis or childhood bone health, in general, remains an important clinical question. Here, we will focus on clarifying the controversial relationships between childhood obesity and bone strength development, and provide insights into potential mechanisms that may regulate the effect of excess adiposity on bone.

Is high weight status associated with pediatric forearm fractures requiring anatomic reduction?

BACKGROUND

High weight status is associated with increased forearm fracture risk but its relationship to severity of fracture has not been evaluated. We compared the epidemiology of children's forearm fractures treated with fracture reduction to those not treated with reduction, hypothesizing that high weight status would be significantly associated with need for reduction.

METHODS

This is a case-control study including Washington, DC children, ages 2 to 17 years, treated for isolated forearm fractures in an urban, tertiary care pediatric emergency department from 2003 to 2006. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were conducted to compare patients with forearm fracture reductions to nonintervention controls.

RESULTS

Of 888 forearm fractures, 330 (37.2%) required reduction (cases) whereas 558 (64.8%) did not (controls). Cases were more likely than controls to be male [adjusted odds ratio, 1.67 (95% confidence interval, 1.11-2.50)] and to have experienced a more severe mechanism of trauma [adjusted odds ratio, 2.11 (95% confidence interval, 1.14-3.90)]. The groups did not differ in weight status, age, or race/ethnicity.

CONCLUSIONS

The need for reduction among children with forearm fractures is significantly associated with male sex and major mechanisms of trauma but not with high weight status. Strategies to reduce severe forearm fractures should focus on preventing major mechanisms of trauma.