Abstract
Objective: We aimed to assess the outcomes of conservative treatment (closed reduction and cast immobilization) in the management of pediatric distal radius fractures.
Material and Methods: A total of 138 pediatric patients aged 3 to 16 years who sustained a distal radius fracture and underwent closed reduction and cast immobilization in emergency department were included in this retrospective study. The mean age of patients at the time of close reduction was 11.47 ± 3.60 (range, 3-16) years. Age, gender, classification of fracture, side, and mechanism of injury were documented. In addition, displacement and angulation data were recorded from PACS integrated hospital information management system. We evaluated demographic characteristics of patients and radiographic loss of reduction.
Results: A total of 50 patients were female, whereas 88 patients were male. Thirty-one patients (22.5%) had loss of reduction. Colles fractures had significantly higher varus-valgus deformity (p<0.001; <0.001; <0.001 and <0.001, respectively) and AP angulation (p=0.013; <0.001; <0.001 and <0.001, respectively) than SH type-2 and Torus/Buckle fractures at the first, second, 4th, and 6th weeks follow-up views. There is no significant difference in terms of varus-valgus deformity (p=0.160; 0.283; 0.263 and 0.744, respectively) and AP angulation (p=0.996, 0.943, 0.816 and 0.237, respectively) at each follow-up period between female and male patients. We did not find any correlation between age and varus-valgus and AP angulation at the follow-up views.
Conclusion: We demonstrated that closed reduction and cast immobilization is an effective treatment method for colles, SH type II, and Torus/Buckle distal radius fractures.