title: Short-term after-effect of forearm cast removal in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the sensation in the hand after forearm cast removal in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group included 33 consecutive children who were treated nonoperatively for a forearm fracture at our center over a 1-year period. The children were asked to report any sensation in the ipsilateral hand after cast removal, and the findings were analyzed against background and fracture-related data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients ranged in age from 6 to 14 years (median 10.00 years). Seventeen had been immobilized in an above-elbow cast and the remainder in a below-elbow cast. All children treated with an above-elbow cast complained that after cast removal, the hand on that side felt limp, and they had to hold it with the contralateral hand. By contrast, only one child treated with a below-elbow cast reported this sensation (p = 0.0001, Fisher exact test).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Orthopedic surgeons and rehabilitation unit staff should be aware of the possibility of a very short-term sensation of drooping and weakness of the hand after removal of an above-elbow cast in children and prepare the child and parents accordingly in order to lessen unnecessary anxiety.
authors: Orthopedic Surgery Unit, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, 14 Kaplan Street, 49202 Petah Tiqwa, Israel. Katzzz@bezeqint.net
authors: Kalman
authors: K
authors: Katz
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Weigl
authors: Tal
authors: T
authors: Becker
authors: Joseph
authors: J
authors: Attias
authors: Elhanan
authors: E
authors: Bar-On