CAST IMMOBILIZA IN DISTAL FOREARM FRACTURE IN CHILDREN

Objective: To find out the effectiveness of closed reduction and cast immobilization in treating distal third forearm
fractures in children.
Material and Methods: This descriptive case series study was carried in the orthopedic department of Hayatabad
Medical complex Peshawar from March 2010 to March 2011. A total one hundred and eight patients presented with
distal forearm fracture aged 4–12 years.
Results: The mean ages of the children were 7.10 ± 2.18 years. Male were 59.3% and female were 40.7%. The right
side was the dominant limb in both groups. 22.2% of children required remanipulation. 14.8% patients developed
complications. Eleven patients developed swelling associated with pain and 5 patients developed mild swelling.
Nine patients had change of cast due to swelling associated with pain. Six children had an above-the-elbow cast
converted to a below-the-elbow cast at the three-week follow-up visit for reasons of comfort. No child had a compart-
ment syndrome develop despite the acute application of a circumferential cast.
Conclusions: closed reduction and cast immobilization is effective in maintaining reduction of fractures in the distal
third of the forearm in children.
Keywords: forearm fractures, distal radius fractures, cast immobilization.