Citation

Luhmann SJ, Schootman M, Schoenecker PL, Dobbs MB, Gordon JE. J. Pediatr. Orthop. 2004; 24(1): 1-6.

Affiliation

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, and St. Louis Children's Hospital, Missouri 63110, USA. Luhmanns@msnotes.wustl.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

14676525

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.

Language: en