[Assessment of surgical and conservative treatment of forearm fractures: results in juveniles].

BACKGROUND

We aimed to assess treatment outcomes of forearm fractures in patients aged between 10-18 years, for whom strict guidelines for surgical and conservative treatment are not yet clear.

METHODS

From a total of 41 patients between the ages of 10-18 years, 34 patients with a minimum of one-year follow-up in our clinic with the diagnosis of forearm fracture were evaluated retrospectively. All the patients had open epiphyses. Twenty-three of these patients were treated conservatively and 11 surgically. Patients were evaluated according to time of union, function and cosmesis. Average follow-up was two years (12-36 months).

RESULTS

Conservative treatment gave excellent and good results in 21 (91%), while surgical treatment gave excellent and good results in 9 (82%) of the patients when evaluated according to Anderson's criteria. A bad result was seen in one patient who did not accept an operation, and had an angulation of over 15 degrees. We also had one bad result in the operatively treated group because of implant failure and a need for a second operation.

CONCLUSION

According to our results, conservative treatment should be the mainstay in the treatment of childhood fractures of the forearm. However, we should not hesitate in considering surgical treatment when the patients have a malalignment of more than 15 degrees.