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| CASE REPORT |
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| Year : 2022 | Volume
: 27
| Issue : 2 | Page : 69-71 |
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Pathological fractures leading to the incidental diagnosis of rickets
Mohammed Abrahim
Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| Date of Submission | 21-Mar-2021 |
| Date of Decision | 23-May-2021 |
| Date of Acceptance | 31-May-2021 |
| Date of Web Publication | 26-Mar-2022 |
Correspondence Address:
MD, CCFP(EM), CFPC Dipl., ABOM Mohammed Abrahim
Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario
Canada
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None
DOI: 10.4103/cjrm.cjrm_18_21
How to cite this article:
Abrahim M. Pathological fractures leading to the incidental diagnosis of rickets. Can J Rural Med 2022;27:69-71 |
| Introduction | |  |
Rickets is a bone demineralising disease secondary to Vitamin D, calcium and/or phosphate deficiency, resulting in clinically significant skeletal and systemic permanent morbidities.[1] Vitamin D deficiency rickets is the most common preventable metabolic bone disease in children worldwide,[1] with nutritional Vitamin D deficiency being the most common cause. Other less common aetiologies relate to disorders in the renal, hepatic or intestinal systems.[1] Nutritional rickets has not been eradicated from Canada. In a national survey of Canadian paediatricians, the annual incidence of nutritional rickets was estimated at 2.9 cases per 100,000 in children younger than 3 years.[2] The mean age at diagnosis in Canada is 1.4 years, and the vast majority of the patients are exclusively breast-fed and of darker skin. Recent immigrants and Indigenous Canadians are also at a higher risk of the disease.[2] The incidence of nutritional rickets increases significantly for Indigenous children. Between 2001 and 2010, there were 4.2 cases per 100,000.[3] The Canadian Paediatric Society recommends Vitamin D supplementation of 400 IU/day for all infants during their 1st year, increasing to 800 IU/day for Northern Indigenous communities during winter.[4]
Certain findings on the physical examination [Table 1] could suggest the diagnosis of rickets. Furthermore, paediatric visits that entail plain radiographs are common, including limb radiographs in trauma and chest radiographs for respiratory symptoms. Rural family and emergency physicians are usually the first to interpret plain X-rays, and the patient departs before the radiologist interpretation report becomes available.[5] In rickets, osteopaenia and pathological fractures are common due to bone demineralisation.[1] In addition, there are several distinctive radiological signs of rickets [Table 2]. Because of the rapid growth of the epiphysis, in the form of rarefaction of the provisional zone of calcification with the widening of epiphysis–diaphysis distance, rickets most commonly begins at the distal ends of long bones.[6] Infants are more likely to get chest radiography, rather than limb; thus, the early signs of rickets can be observed in the humeral head.[6]
Rural physicians could initiate treatment upon the initial diagnosis by recommending parents increase their child's intake of high-Vitamin D food, such as fatty fish, increased sunlight exposure and Vitamin D supplementation. All patients suspected to have rickets should be referred to a paediatric tertiary care centre for a further work-up to rule out less common causes of rickets. In addition, because of the low impact needed to induce fracture in rachitic bones, pathological fractures could be mistakenly reported as non-accidental fractures due to child abuse or neglect.
| Case History | | |
A previously healthy 17-month-old Canadian boy of South-Asian descent was brought into the emergency department of a rural hospital by his parents after sustaining a minor injury. His parents stated that he fell from standing while he was trying to reach a toy on the floor. Since then, he had refused to use his left upper limb and cried whenever the forearm was touched. A focussed physical examination revealed intact skin, no obvious deformity, normal spontaneous range of motion of the elbow and wrist with mild swelling and localised tenderness over the distal forearm.
An X-ray of the left forearm, including the wrist joint, was obtained. The anteroposterior view [Figure 1] and lateral view [Figure 2] demonstrated buckle fractures of the distal radial and ulnar diaphyses. In addition to the positive radiological findings, directly related to the patient's visit, there were other incidental findings. These included osteopaenia, concave metaphyses, widening of the metaphyseal ends and brush-like metaphyseal margins. Based on the radiological findings, the diagnosis of rickets was suggested. Further history revealed that the patient was exclusively breast-fed. As a result, nutritional counselling was provided to his parents. The patient was treated with a forearm splint and Vitamin D supplementation. The parents were also recommended to increase his exposure to sunlight and introduce a diet rich in Vitamin D. In addition, to rule out other less common causes of rickets, the patient was referred to a paediatric tertiary care centre for a further work-up. Given the diagnosis and pathological nature of the injury, and the absence of other red flags of child abuse/neglect, a non-accidental injury report was not initiated.
| Discussion | | |
Rickets is re-emerging in Canada. Children with undiagnosed rickets continually present to rural physicians. The initial diagnosis of rickets can occur incidentally on plain radiographs. Given that rural physicians are the first to interpret their patients' plain radiographs and the potential prevention of the profound morbidity of the disease, there is an urgent need for heightened awareness among rural physicians to recognise the disease among infants with dark skin, Indigenous and exclusively breast-fed infants. Finally, the knowledge and identification of the radiological features of rickets would aid rural physicians in distinguishing those fractures from non-accidental injuries. As a result, this will avoid wrongfully accusing the parents of non-accidental injury and the unwarranted reporting to Children's Aid Society (CAS). Because nutritional rickets is more prevalent among Indigenous and recent immigrant children, CAS reporting could further contribute to them experiencing an unintended racial discrimination when accessing health-care.
Financial support and sponsorship: Nil.
Patient consent received.
Conflicts of interest: There are no conflicts of interest.
| References | | |
| 1. | Wharton B, Bishop N. Rickets. Lancet 2003;362:1389-400.  |
| 2. | Ward LM, Gaboury I, Ladhani M, Zlotkin S. Vitamin D-deficiency rickets among children in Canada. CMAJ 2007;177:161-6. |
| 3. | Singleton R, Lescher R, Gessner BD, Benson M, Bulkow L, Rosenfeld J, et al. Rickets and Vitamin D deficiency in Alaska native children. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab 2015;28:815-23. |
| 4. | Vitamin D supplementation: Recommendations for Canadian mothers and infants. Paediatr Child Health 2007;12:583-98. |
| 5. | Torreggiani WC, Nicolaou S, Lyburn ID, Harris AC, Buckley AR. Emergency radiology in Canada: A national survey. Can Assoc Radiol J 2002;53:160-7. |
| 6. | Markowitz RI, Zackai E. A pragmatic approach to the radiologic diagnosis of pediatric syndromes and skeletal dysplasias. Radiol Clin North Am 2001;39:791-802, xi. |
[Figure 1], [Figure 2]
[Table 1], [Table 2]
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