Surgical treatment strategies and their radiological potential for correction of proximal radius fractures in children and adolescents

Abstract

The isolated proximal radius fracture in children is a quite rare injury. In difference to adults a conservative treatment is often possible. But in case of increasing dislocation the indication for surgery is given. Options for an operative treatment are "closed reduction", "percutaneous reduction", "intramedullary nailing", "open reduction" with and without fixation. Aim of this study is to compare these procedures with each other. This was aretrospective investigation and 82patients who underwent surgery after an isolated proximal radius fracture were included. Fracture types were classified according to the AO (working group for osteosynthesis questions)/OTA (Orthopedic Trauma Association) classification. The preoperative and postoperative degrees of axis deviation were compared and were considered to be a measure of the quality of treatment. The lowest degree of axis deviation resulted by open reduction and implantation of K‑wires (15,8°) and implantation of headless compression screws (HCS, 16°). Closed reduction without any fixation resulted in 19°, with implantation of an TEN (titan elastic nail) in 20° and the open reduction without any fixation resulted in 21° of axis deviation. No correlation was observed concerning the fracture type and the postoperative axis deviation. The study shows that the postoperative result does not depend on the fracture type (according to the AO/OTA classification) but on the surgical procedure. Despite the good radiological results in open reduction and internal fixation this procedure should be reserved for difficult situations in which less invasive surgical procedures fail, to avoid aseptic bone necrosis.