Epidemiology of Pediatric Fractures
Summary
Paediatric fractures represent a substantial component of childhood morbidity worldwide, with incidence peaks in early adolescence and a consistent male predominance. Epidemiological data indicate that rates vary by age, sex, anatomical site and activity setting, with distal forearm fractures among the most frequent injuries arising from falls during sports and recreational play. Long-term surveillance has revealed temporal shifts, including initial rises in incidence linked to demographic changes and evolving leisure patterns, followed in some regions by stabilisation or modest declines. Regional variation in injury mechanisms—from playground accidents to traffic collisions—highlights the need for targeted prevention. The complex interplay between intrinsic factors such as skeletal maturation and extrinsic factors including environmental hazards shapes the global burden of paediatric fractures. Standardised reporting frameworks have enhanced international comparisons, guiding resource allocation and informing the design of interventions to reduce both immediate injury and long-term impairment.
Research from Nature Portfolio
No recent Nature Portfolio content available.
Epidemiology of Pediatric Fractures publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in epidemiology of pediatric fractures across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Incidence rate: Number of new fractures occurring in a defined population per unit of time, often expressed per 10 000 or 100 000 person-years.
Person-years: Aggregate of individual observation periods during which each person in a study is at risk, used to standardise incidence calculations.
Age-adjusted incidence: Incidence rate modified to a standard age distribution to facilitate valid comparisons between populations with differing age structures.
Retrospective cohort study: Observational design that analyses existing records to examine outcomes in a group of individuals over a specified past period.
References
- Development of the annual incidence rate of fracture in children 1980–2018: a population-based study of 32,375 fractures. Acta Orthopaedica (2020).
- Epidemiology and management of 10,486 pediatric fractures in Shenzhen: experience and lessons to be learnt. BMC Pediatrics (2022).
- Time trends in pediatric fractures in a Swedish city from 1950 to 2016. Acta Orthopaedica (2020).
Turn complex research questions into confident strategic decisions
When you're under pressure to set direction, justify investment, or understand your competitive position, you need more than raw data — you need trusted insights you can act on.
Benchmark your performance against global peers using robust, methodologically sound analysis.
Combine quantitative metrics with qualitative expert insight to uncover strengths, gaps and emerging opportunities.
Gain tailored, decision-ready recommendations aligned to your strategic priorities.
Talk to us to learn more about our data dashboards and bespoke strategy reports.
Grow research skills, confidence and careers with training built for every stage of the research lifecycle.
Developed with Nature Portfolio journal Editors and internationally renowned experts. Discover three ways to learn:
Self-paced, online courses in convenient bite-sized units, covering key skills across scientific writing, publishing, grant writing, data analysis, and more.
Expert trainer-led workshops with hands-on exercises and real-time feedback across core research skills, delivered via interactive group sessions.
Editor-led workshops combining core principles in writing and publishing, personalised 1:1 feedback from Nature Portfolio Editors and hands-on exercises.
Explore course catalogues and workshop agendas, enquire about the options or request institutional pricing.