title: [Sternal fracture in growing children : A rare and often overlooked fracture? Documentation of four cases].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sternal fractures in childhood are rare. The aim of the study was to investigate the accident mechanism, the detection of radiological and sonographical criteria and consideration of associated injuries.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the period from January 2010 to December 2012 all inpatients and outpatients with sternal fractures were recorded according to the documentation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 4 children aged 5-14 years with a sternal fracture were treated in 2 years, 2 children were hospitalized for pain management and 2 remained in outpatient care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Isolated sternal fractures in childhood are often due to typical age-related traumatic incidents. Ultrasonography is a useful diagnostic tool for fracture detection and radiography is the method of choice for visualization of the extent of the dislocation.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Unfall-, Wiederherstellungschirurgie und Orthopädie, Krankenhaus Bietigheim, Riedstr. 12, 74123, Bietigheim-Bissingen, Deutschland. inafichtel@t-online.de.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fichtel
authors.affiliation: Orthopädische Klinik, Klinikum Stuttgart, Olgahospital, Stuttgart, Deutschland.
authors.forename: F F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Fernandez
authors.affiliation: Orthopädische Klinik, Klinikum Stuttgart, Olgahospital, Stuttgart, Deutschland.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wirth
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D035583:Rare Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D013249:Sternum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000293:injuries*
keywords: Accident mechanism; Diagnostic radiology; Dislocation; Fracture sonography; Radiological criteria