Intramedullary fixation of pediatric forearm diaphyseal fractures

Surgical treatment of pediatric forearm fractures is controversial. In this retrospective study, we reviewed 24 skeletally immature radial and ulnar fractures in 24 patients treated with intramedullary Rush pins and/or Kirschner wires between 1994 and 1999. The indication for surgical intervention was unacceptable closed reduction, unstable fracture pattern, open fracture, or recurrence after nonsurgical treatment. For each patient, a sugar tong splint was used for 4 weeks, and pins were removed 8 weeks after surgery. Average length of follow-up was 32 months (range, 6-58 months). All fractures in this series healed. Average time to union was 8 weeks. There were no complications of delayed union, nonunion, infection, or neurovascular injury. All patients regained full range of motion of the injured extremity.