title: Complications and outcomes of open pediatric forearm fractures.
abstract: Few reports have documented the complications and outcomes of open pediatric forearm fractures. The authors completed of all patients (1987-1999) with open forearm fractures. Sixty-five patients with 65 injured extremities were identified, with an average age of 10.3 years. Fifty-two open fractures were grade I, 12 were grade II, and 1 was grade IIIA. Implants stabilized 40 extremities (62%), which improved alignment but not outcome. Forearms initially stabilized with implants did not undergo additional realignment procedures (0%), compared with 18.5% of forearms without stabilization. Eleven patients (16.9%) experienced complications. Overall, 47 (72%) were classified as having excellent results, 11 (17%) as good, and 7 (11%) as fair. Open pediatric forearm fractures have a high percentage of excellent and good outcomes. Early, thorough surgical débridement produces a low frequency of deep infections, and bony stabilization can be a safe technique, permitting more anatomic alignment and preventing the need for reoperation due to malalignment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, and St. Louis Children's Hospital, Missouri 63110, USA. Luhmanns@msnotes.wustl.edu
authors.forename: Scott J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Luhmann
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schootman
authors.forename: Perry L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Schoenecker
authors.forename: Matthew B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Dobbs
authors.forename: J Eric
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Gordon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003646:Debridement; D005260:Female; D005597:Fractures, Open / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014458:Ulna Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D014954:Wrist Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D000092464:Elbow Injuries