[Clinical assessment of pediatric patients with Waddel's triad]. / Evaluación clínica del paciente pediátrico con tríada de Waddell.

INTRODUCTION: Waddell's triad represents an emergency for pediatric patients due to the high incidence of injuries associated with the femur fracture. OBJECTIVE: To clinically assess, upon presentation, the femur fracture associated with the head trauma, chest and/or abdominal trauma in the pediatric patients and its course during the hospital stay. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective, observational study analyzing the cases that had clinical, imaging and picture records to assess the presence of associated injuries as well as their course during the hospital stay. RESULTS: A total of 21 patients were included; 13 boys and 8 girls, ages 3-14 years; weight upon admission was 12-30 kg, the Pediatric Trauma Score range was 1-9 points; 9.6% sustained open fractures; 15 cases had femoral fracture associated with musculoskeletal injuries; the most frequent finding related with head trauma was brain edema. Sixty-two percent of those with thoracic or abdominal trauma warranted a surgical procedure; 18 patients required mechanical ventilation; several methods were used to treat the femur fractures. CONCLUSIONS: The polytraumatized patients need multidisciplinary care. There is a high percentage of musculoskeletal and non-orthopedic associated injuries in Waddell's triad. The Pediatric Trauma Score is a good indicator of the severity of the patient's condition.