Elastic intramedullary nailing: a minimally invasive concept in the treatment of unstable forearm fractures in children.

The standard treatment in forearm fractures in children is usually conservative. Unstable fractures of the proximal parts of the forearm often show poor results after nonoperative management so that these fractures usually require surgical intervention. We report 30 children (ages, 4-14 years) who were treated by elastic intramedullary nailing. Sixteen patients were treated by intramedullary splinting immediately after their accident; 14 children required intramedullary nailing after failure of conservative treatment and fracture redisplacement. At the time of follow-up 6 months later, functional results were excellent in 24 children, good in five children, and fair in one child. There were no serious complications other than one delayed union. According to these results intramedullary nailing can be recommended for the treatment of unstable fractures of the proximal and middle thirds of the forearm in children.