Isolated distal radius fractures in children

Isolated distal radius fractures (with or without a greenstick fracture of ulna) in children have a significant rate of loss of correction, if treated by manipulation and casting alone. This study included 52 patients (54 fractures) whose average age were 10.9 years and who were treated because of isolated fracture of distal radius (epiphyseal or metaphyseal) at the 3rd Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology of Ankara Numune Hospital. 50 patients were treated by manipulation and a long arm cast initia/ly. Of these 50 patients, 3 (6%) had an initial inadequate reduction and 15 (30%) had a loss of position between 5 and 30 days af ter reduction. There were 16 males and 2 females with an average age of 12.3 years (7-15). Of these 18 patients, 15 were treated by open reduction and internal fixation, 2 by closed reduction and casting under general anesthesia and 1 by percutaneous Kirshner wiring. Af ter an average follow-up of 10.5 months (3-18 months), all patients had satisfactory results both clinica/ly and radiologica/ly. In conclusion, isolated distal radius fracture in children are esssentially unstable, and if manipulation and casting fails, closed or open reduction and fixation should be the choice of treatment.