title: Compartment syndrome following intramedullary fixation of pediatric forearm fractures.
abstract: This study was designed to evaluate the incidence of compartment syndrome (CS) resulting from the treatment of both-bone forearm fractures in children. A retrospective analysis of 285 consecutive children who presented with both-bone forearm fractures was performed. Of 235 closed injuries, 205 were treated with closed reduction and casting; none of these patients developed CS. Thirty of the closed injuries were treated with closed reduction and intramedullary fixation; three of these patients (10%) developed CS. Fifty patients sustained open fractures and were treated with debridement and open reduction with intramedullary pinning; CS developed in three of these patients (6%). The eighty patients treated with intramedullary fixation had an increased incidence of CS compared with the 205 patients treated with closed reduction and casting (P < 0.001). Within the group of patients who had surgery, patients with longer operative times and more use of intraoperative fluoroscopy were at higher risk of developing CS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Children's Hospital, San Diego, California, and the Department of Orthopaedics, University of California, San Diego, California 91123, USA.
authors.forename: Philip S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Maya E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Pring
authors.forename: Tracey P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Gaynor
authors.forename: Scott J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Mubarak
authors.forename: Peter O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Newton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003161:Compartment Syndromes / Q000209:etiology*; D003646:Debridement; D005260:Female; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005596:Fractures, Closed / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014458:Ulna Fractures / Q000601:surgery*