PAEDIATRIC ORTHOPAEDIC TRAUMA EMERGENCIES: CURRENT STATUS-WHAT’S NEW-FUTURE DIRECTIONS

Paediatric trauma represents the leading cause of mortality and disability. The orthopaedic surgeon plays a pivotal role in diagnosing and properly treating paediatric trauma with recent advances being systematically interfered in specific guidelines. In this narrative review we summarize paediatric trauma injuries, their current management focusing on existing controversies or concepts not properly supported by current data. We analyse open fractures, pelvic and spinal injuries, injuries with neurovascular compromise or ones requiring urgent reduction and  the paediatric acute compartment syndrome. We conclude that although current data suggest a systemic approach to paediatric polytrauma is now implemented, there are still questions unanswered that require high-quality  studies and proper follow-up.