Elastic intramedullary titanium rod fixation of paediatric forearm fractures

ABSTRACT

Fourteen patients with unstable fractures of both bones of the forearm were treated with flexible titanium intramedullary nails during the period from January 2000 through July 2001. The mean age of the studied group was 8.4 years. Ten patients were treated by closed reduction under image intensifier, while four needed open reduction to allow insertion of the nails. Full union was achieved at a mean time of 12.5 weeks ranging from 10 to 16 weeks. There were no recorded cases of re-displacement or nonunion. All cases healed with good alignment less than 5 degrees of angulation. Pull range of motion at wrist, elbow and radioulnar joints were achieved in all patients except one [7.2%] who had ten degrees limitation of supination