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BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 1/2011

Open Access 01-12-2011 | Research article

Development and validation of a paediatric long-bone fracture classification. A prospective multicentre study in 13 European paediatric trauma centres

Authors: Dorien Schneidmüller, Christoph Röder, Ralf Kraus, Ingo Marzi, Martin Kaiser, Daniel Dietrich, Lutz von Laer

Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders | Issue 1/2011

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Abstract

Background

The aim of this study was to develop a child-specific classification system for long bone fractures and to examine its reliability and validity on the basis of a prospective multicentre study.

Methods

Using the sequentially developed classification system, three samples of between 30 and 185 paediatric limb fractures from a pool of 2308 fractures documented in two multicenter studies were analysed in a blinded fashion by eight orthopaedic surgeons, on a total of 5 occasions. Intra- and interobserver reliability and accuracy were calculated.

Results

The reliability improved with successive simplification of the classification. The final version resulted in an overall interobserver agreement of κ = 0.71 with no significant difference between experienced and less experienced raters.

Conclusions

In conclusion, the evaluation of the newly proposed classification system resulted in a reliable and routinely applicable system, for which training in its proper use may further improve the reliability. It can be recommended as a useful tool for clinical practice and offers the option for developing treatment recommendations and outcome predictions in the future.
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Metadata
Title
Development and validation of a paediatric long-bone fracture classification. A prospective multicentre study in 13 European paediatric trauma centres
Authors
Dorien Schneidmüller
Christoph Röder
Ralf Kraus
Ingo Marzi
Martin Kaiser
Daniel Dietrich
Lutz von Laer
Publication date
01-12-2011
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders / Issue 1/2011
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2474
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2474-12-89

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