Pediatric Forearm Fractures: A Prospective Study of Conservative Management

Syed Amir Jalil, Muhammad Waqaruddin, Zeeshan Idrees, Bashir Ahmed Siddiqi, Rajab Ali Mughal and Muhammad Naseem

Department of Orthopedic, Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, Pakistan

^*Correspondance to: Muhammad Waqaruddin Sheroze 

 PDF  Full Text DOI: 10.25107/2474-1647.2548

Abstract

Introduction: Forearm fractures are the most common fractures in children, accounts 30% to 40% of all fractures. Most of these fractures are treated by close reduction and immobilization. Both national (80%) and international (58.8%) literature shows marked variation in the outcome of conservative management of forearm fractures. Operative management becomes popular due to complications of conservative treatment, which includes re-displacement, compartment syndrome, residual deformation and loss of mobility. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted at Department of Orthopedic unit 2 of Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. All children of less than 14 years of age with forearm fractures were included. Data was collected through a self-administered proforma. Closed reduction and POP cast was done under sedative analgesia. Patients were followed up initially after 3 days and a check X-ray was done and re-manipulation was performed if needed. Then patients were followed every week for four weeks and fresh X-ray was done on every visit. Data was analyzed by using IBM SPSS v.20. Results: The study included thirty patients with forearm fractures, males being dominant. The mean age was 7.47 years. Majority of males 16 (76.2%) and females 8 (88.8%) had combined fractures of radius and ulna. The most common cause of injury was fall during play 22 (73.3%). Majority of the children 21 (70%) had fractures of radius shaft. Shaft of ulna was fractured in 18 (60%) children. Satisfactory outcome was achieved in 23 (76.7%) of the participants. Re-displacement was seen in 3 (10%) patients during follow-up. Conclusion: Conservative management for pediatric forearm fractures is a successful treatment with high success and low complication rate. Therefore we recommend conservative management for pediatric forearm fractures.

Keywords

Radius fractures; Conservative management; Forearm fractures

Cite the article

Jalil SA, Waqaruddin M, Idrees Z, Siddiqi BA, Mughal RA, Naseem M. Pediatric Forearm Fractures: A Prospective Study of Conservative Management. Clin Surg. 2019; 4: 2548.