Bilateral acetabular fractures in an adolescent after low-energy trauma.
BACKGROUND
Pediatric pelvic fractures are rare, accounting for approximately 2.4% to 5.5% of annual admissions at large level I trauma centers. An acetabular fracture is involved in only about 1% to 15% of these cases and is almost exclusively caused by a high-energy trauma.


METHODS
This is a report of an otherwise healthy 15-year-old male adolescent who sustained a nondisplaced bilateral anterior column and wall acetabular fracture after a low-energy mechanism during a hockey game. The patient was managed nonoperatively with non-weight-bearing restrictions and had complete resolution of his symptoms by 10 weeks.


RESULTS
This case shows that a low-energy mechanism can create significant bilateral acetabular fractures in the immature skeleton.


CONCLUSIONS
The presented case may represent an underdiagnosed cause of hip and groin pain in the adolescent patient/athlete when initial radiographs appear normal.
Department of Orthopedics, Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14215, USA. srnodzo@buffalo.edu
Scott R
SR
Nodzo
Donald W
DW
Hohman
Robert D
RD
Galpin
D000077:Acetabulum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D050815:Fractures, Compression / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D006688:Hockey / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed