The incidence of neurologic injury in paediatric forearm fractures requiring manipulation

Abstract

This study sought to evaluate the incidence of neurologic injury in children referred for manipulation in our hospital. A retrospective chart analysis of the first 100 children to be referred with a fracture of any segment of the radius and/or ulna was performed. The incidence of neurologic injury was found to be 15.6%. Neurological injury occurs most frequently with distal physeal fractures with an incidence of 37%. Clinicians require a high index of suspicion when evaluating forearm fractures. If neurologic injury is missed at initial assessment, the child may not receive a prompt reduction, thus increasing the likelihood of long-term sequelae.