title: Intramedullary fixation of pediatric forearm diaphyseal fractures.
abstract: Surgical treatment of pediatric forearm fractures is controversial. In this retrospective study, we reviewed 24 skeletally immature radial and ulnar fractures in 24 patients treated with intramedullary Rush pins and/or Kirschner wires between 1994 and 1999. The indication for surgical intervention was unacceptable closed reduction, unstable fracture pattern, open fracture, or recurrence after nonsurgical treatment. For each patient, a sugar tong splint was used for 4 weeks, and pins were removed 8 weeks after surgery. Average length of follow-up was 32 months (range, 6-58 months). All fractures in this series healed. Average time to union was 8 weeks. There were no complications of delayed union, nonunion, infection, or neurovascular injury. All patients regained full range of motion of the injured extremity.
authors.affiliation: State University of New York at Stony Brook, USA.
authors.forename: Y Q
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Penna
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Haralabatos
authors.forename: W V
authors.initials: WV
authors.lastname: Carrion
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014458:Ulna Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*