Nonunion as a complication of an open reduction of a distal radial fracture in a healthy child: a case report

Nonunion of a distal radial fracture is rare in children. We report one referred case of a nonunion of the distal radius after an open reduction. The patient is a 10-year-old healthy male with a displaced bicortical fracture of the distal radius and an undisplaced ulnar fracture. This fracture was initially treated by the referring orthopedist with open reduction and single Kirschner wire fixation, as closed reduction was thought to be difficult to achieve. The patient was seen with a distal radius nonunion at 14 months following the initial procedure. A complete workup revealed a healthy child with no general or local pathologies. He was treated with open reduction of the nonunion site, correction of angular deformity, and plate fixation. This resulted in bony union with no limitation of motion. Potential reasons for the development of nonunion and suggestions to avoid this complication are discussed.