Question: Hello,

I would like clarification on few things please. The first being, in a baby approximately 8 weeks of age, does a diaphyseal femur fracture that displaces, do so immediately with the trauma or can it be non displaced and then go on to displace later perhaps through manipulation of the legs? I have heard conflicting information regarding this, however, from a book from a paediatric radiologist it says, “the deformity almost always occurs immediately at the time of the fracture and is the result of the relative displaced positions of the broken ends of the bone at the site of the fracture”. Could you confirm if this is correct please?

Also, can an 8 week old baby move and kick a leg with a displaced or even non displaced, if that’s possible, femur fracture with a power of 5 out of 5 and a tone of normal?

Lastly, when examining a baby who presents only with irritability, what examinations are usually performed to help find the cause? If no cause is found, is it usual to suspect sepsis and if so, what is the first course of action to treat this?

Thank you kindly.

Hello,

Thank you for your reply.

Is it possible in a baby for a non displaced diaphyseal fracture in the leg to go on to displace during manipulation of the legs, such as changing its clothes? Or is this not possible because the fracture would already be displaced at the time of trauma?

Also, can a baby move a diaphyseal fracture of the leg whether displaced or not?

Thank you so much for your help.

Kind regards.

Thank you again for your reply. I really appreciate your help.

I’m not sure if you’d know but can a low level of vitamin D about 27, with no radiological signs of rickets be a cause of fractures in a baby?

Thank you.

Kind regards.