Successful results obtained in the treatment of adolescent forearm fractures with locked intramedullary nailing / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE@#In the surgical treatment of paediatric forearm fractures, plate-screw and titanium elastic nails are used. During the transformation of ligamento-osseous structures from adolescence form into adult form, more stable fixation is required. The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of locked intramedullary nail fixation in adolescent forearm fractures.@*METHODS@#A retrospective examination was made on 36 adolescent patients who underwent surgery with locked intramedullary nail fixation due to a forearm fracture. The included patients were in the adolescent age group (12-17 years), did not meet conservative follow-up criteria and had unstable fractures (>10° angulation and 18 years or 15 years had prolonged time to union ([11.1 ± 1.8] weeks). There were no non-unions, re-fractures or infections. No complications were observed during implant removal. None of the patients had sensorial radial nerve injury or tendon damage.@*CONCLUSION@#The locked intramedullary nailing technique, which is minimally invasive and provides biological fixation, was found to be successful and safe in the treatment of adolescent forearm fractures.