Elastic intramedullary nailing--a concept for treatment of unstable forearm fractures in childhood
Hahn, M.P.; Richter, D.; Ostermann, P.A.; Muhr, G.
Der Chirurg; Zeitschrift für Alle Gebiete der Operativen Medizen 67(4): 409-412
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0009-4722 PMID: 8646929 Document Number: 458012
The standard treatment for forearm fractures in children is usually conservative. Unstable fractures of the proximal parts of the forearm often show poor results after nonoperative management, so that these fractures require surgical intervention. We report about 20 children ranging in age from 6 to 14 years who were treated by elastic intramedullary nailing. Ten patients were treated by intramedullary pinning immediately after their accident; 10 required intramedullary nailing after failure of the conservative treatment and redislocations of their fractures. At the time of follow-up 6 months later, functional results were "excellent" in 16 children, "good" in 3 children and "fair" in one child. There were no serious complications apart from the occurrence of one delayed union. According to these results intramedullary nailing can be recommended for the treatment of unstable fractures of the proximal and middle parts of the forearm in children.