Orthopedic injuries in children are unique because of the dynamic state of growth and development of children. The cliché that states “children are just small adults” certainly does not apply. The biochemical and physiologic differences of the child's skeleton from that of the adult lead to distinctly different mechanisms of injury, fracture patterns, healing, and treatment needs that are crucial for the emergency physician to understand. Moreover, every age group from infancy through adolescence has its own typical fracture patterns, which one should be able to anticipate. In this country, unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death and disability in children, and up to one half of all emergency department (ED)-related visits are orthopedic in nature.<sup>15 England S.P., Sundberg S. Management of common orthopedic fractures Pediatr Clin North Am 1996 ;  43 : 991-1012  [cross-ref]

Cliquez ici pour aller à la section Références</sup> The importance of knowing how to diagnose and treat children with orthopedic injuries lies in the desired outcome of minimal morbidity, especially normal growth and development of the child.