Mechanisms and trends of pediatric clavicular fractures in the United States: a 10-year epidemiologic analysis of national injury data.

Background: Clavicular fractures are common injuries among children, usually due to sports-related trauma or accidental falls. The purpose of this study was to assess the epidemiology of clavicular fractures among children in the United States between 2014 and 2023. Methods: All data were extracted from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, a publicly available database representing approximately 100 US emergency departments. National Electronic Injury Surveillance System was queried for all shoulder fractures in patients 0-18 year old. These fractures were then filtered for clavicle fractures. Queries were restricted to fractures from January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2023. Results: An estimated 391,501 clavicular fractures were treated in United States emergency departments between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2023. This yielded an average of 53.6 injuries per 100,000 US children per year. The mean age at presentation was 9.6 ± 0.5 years old, of which 73.1% were male. Linear regression of fracture rates demonstrated no significant trend in overall clavicular fractures over the 10-year study period ( Conclusion: The prevalence of clavicle fractures in the United States population has been relatively stable over the past 10 years, with football injuries being the most common etiology. Males aged 10-14 were the most affected, with their injuries occurring most frequently in places of recreation and sport. The prevalence of admission because of pediatric clavicular fractures increased throughout the study period, suggestive of an increase in severity of injuries necessitating admission. Falls from bed were the second most common mechanism of injury, emphasizing the need for proper safety education for children and parents.