Affiliations: [a]
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| [b]
Seattle Children’s Hospital, Seattle, WA, USA
Correspondence:
[*]
Corresponding author: Jaclyn Omura, MD, Seattle Children’s Hospital, University of Washington School of Medicine, PO Box 5371, M/S OB8 – 410 Seattle 98145, USA. Tel.: +1 206 987 2850; Fax: +1 206 987 2651; E-mail: jaclyn.omura@seattlechildrens.org.
Abstract: Proximal humerus fractures in pediatric patients are uncommon. This is a case report of a 17-year-old patient with Duchenne muscular dystrophy who sustained an occult proximal humerus fracture. The patient was on chronic steroids and had a history of vertebral and long bone fractures. He was using a wheeled mobility device on public transportation at the time of injury. He had a negative radiograph, but an MRI revealed a right proximal humerus fracture. He had decreased mobilization in the affected extremity, which limited activities of daily living including driving his power wheelchair. After six weeks of conservative management, he returned to his baseline level of activity. It is important to recognize that chronic steroid use adversely affects bone health, and fractures may be missed on initial imaging. To ensure adequate safety, providers, patients, and their families should be educated on the Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines for using wheeled mobility devices on public transportation.
