A prospective study of 50 cases for management of non–physeal forearm fractures in children and adolescents

Introduction: Diaphyseal fractures of forearm in children and adolescent are extremely common and there are various treatment modalities available for the same. The aim of the study is to assess the outcome of different techniques in management of non-physeal forearm fractures in children and adolescents, to demonstrate the efficacy and complications of open method and to explore the outline of the demographic data of diaphyseal forearm fractures occurring in children and adolescent. Materials and Methods: 50 patients of age group between 1-15 years were included and were treated and assessed with casting, plating or nailing according to various indications between July 2015 to September 2016. Results: 29 patients were treated with casting, 18 with nailing and 3 with plating. 4 patients failed to follow up after discharge from hospital. Duration of hospital stay, operative time and rate of union were statistically significant in the various groups. Final results analysed by Price et al criteria were statistically not significant. Conclusion: Closed reduction and casting yield excellent to good results and if satisfactory alignment is not achieved, surgeon should proceed for operative treatment. Nailing fixation of an unstable forearm fractures in skeletally immature patients allows early functional treatment with an excellent functional and cosmetic outcome in comparison to plate osteosynthesis. However, studies with larger population and longer follow up period are required for further analysis.