Timely treatment and enhanced imaging improve outcomes for adolescents with scaphoid fractures

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children age 5 and older engage in at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day, which should include a mix of moderate to vigorous intensity aerobic exercise and bone-strengthening activities at least three days a week. Children are encouraged to be active for their health, but with activity and sports participation inevitably comes injuries. Some injuries are minor, while others can be more serious, such as fractures and ligament ruptures. By the age of 16, 40% of boys and 25% of girls will have broken a bone. Hand and wrist fractures in children are very common, and the risk is even higher for those who participate in sports. While the most common of these injuries is a distal radius fracture, an increasing number of children are experiencing scaphoid fractures.