Femoral fractures in the nonambulatory child are more likely caused by child abuse, whereas these fractures in ambulatory children are most commonly noninflicted

 Femoral fractures in the nonambulatory child are more likely caused by child abuse, whereas these fractures in ambulatory children are most commonly noninflicted


In both ambulatory and nonambulatory children, under some circumstances, falls on a stairway can cause a spiral femoral fracture. For example, a fall down several steps and landing with 1 leg folded or twisted underneath a child can lead to excessive torsional loading of the femur and a spiral fracture.46 In ambulatory children, noninflicted femoral fractures have been described in children who fell while running or who fell and landed in a split-leg position