>Pediatric fractures are commonly encountered in the emergency department (ED). Approximately 50% of children will fracture a bone during childhood. The unique injury patterns, especially those involving the physis, require that clinicians have a complete and thorough understanding of appropriate diagnostic and management strategies to maximize a child's potential for an optimal outcome.
Getting stuck with a needle is frightening. Most health care workers are frightened and imagine they will become HIV positive. When prophylaxis is indicated, it needs to be started as soon as possible, so it falls to the ED provider to determine the risk and start the right medications to prevent the development of disease.