Venous thromboembolism among pediatric orthopedic trauma patients: a database analysis

Abstract

Using the 2012 Kids Inpatient Database, we assessed records of pediatric patients (<21 years old) with fractures of the upper limb, lower limb, spine, pelvis, and multiple locations and calculated the overall prevalence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and associated potential risk factors. 387 (0.68%) of 57 183 patients with one or more fractures were diagnosed with VTE. Children sustaining fractures of the axial skeleton and those with multiple fractures had a higher prevalence of VTE than those with isolated extremity fractures. Associated risk factors included the presence of a central venous catheter. A prospective, multicenter study is needed to confirm our findings.