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International Journal of Recent Trends in Science and Technology, ISSN 2277-2812 E-ISSN: 2249-8109

Volume 11, Issue 3, July 2014 pp 351-354

Review Article

Elastic intramedullary nailing of paediatric forearm fractures

C N Manjappa¹, G P R K Rohit²

¹ Professor, ² Senior Resident, Department of Orthopaedics, Adichunchanagiri Institute of Medical Sciences, B G Nagar, Karnataka, INDIA.

Abstract

Introduction: Fracture shaft of both bones forearm account for 5% to 10% of children's fractures. The management of diaphyseal fractures of forearm bones in children remains a significant surgical challenge because of their treatment complexity and risk of complications. Because of numerous differences in both treatment and prognosis, shaft fractures are considered to be clinically distinct from fractures of the distal and proximal ends of the same bones. Aims: To study the functional results of elastic intramedullary nailing (tens) of displaced diaphyseal fracture forearm in children. Methods and Materials: Between 2011 and 2012 we treated 20 children aged between 5 and 15 years, with fractures of the forearm using elastic nailing (tens). Both bones were fractured in all 20 patients. Results: 14 patients were reduced closed, followed by nailing, while 4 fractures required mini open reduction prior to nailing. Bony union of all fractures was achieved by an average of 12 weeks (range 10 weeks to 14 weeks).Complications like superficial pin site infection in 2 patients, refracture in 1 patient and 2 patients had limb length discrepancy leading restriction of forearm rotation were noted in our study. Conclusions: Elastic nailing (tens) led to early bony union with acceptable bony alignment in all 20 patients available at final follow-up. We therefore recommend elastic nailing (tens) for the treatment of unstable diaphyseal forearm fractures in children.