Forearm fractures in children – follow-up study of 137 cases. Comparison and statistical analysis of surgical and conservative treatment

Background
Upper limb fractures are a common issue in paediatric patients. Among the available methods, the most prevailing treatment is still closed reduction. The purpose of this study is to determine the best possible course of action in paediatric patients who sustained a forearm fracture.

Objectives
The aim is to evaluate the treatment results of patients with forearm fractures treated in one paediatric surgery centre in Poland.

Material and methods
137 cases of forearm fractures were divided into groups according to the undertaken procedure and then compared using tools of statistical analysis. Several factors were analysed, with particular emphasis on the control of complications, exposure to ionising radiation, the nuisance of therapy and compliance with therapeutic recommendations.

Results
The comparison resulted in a statistically significant difference in reduction of X-ray pictures and a failure rate in favour of surgical treatment. Treatment time was significantly longer for surgical procedures than for conservative treatment. A higher failure rate was reported in the group of patients treated without stabilisation – 21.3%. For surgical procedures, the failure rate was up to 3.8%. Statistical analysis showed a significant difference in the number of interrupted observations between the surgical procedures and conservative treatment.

Conclusions
The shorter treatment time demonstrated for conservative methods and the associated lower financial expenditure, in the context of treatment of the general public, should be used whenever clinically possible. In more complex cases, it is worth taking into account the advantages of surgical methods.