Radial neck fractures in children.

Abstract

To review records of 108 children with radial neck fractures and develop an algorithm for treatment. Records of 50 girls and 58 boys aged 2 to 14 (mean, 8.7) years with radial neck fractures were reviewed. The most common injury mechanism was tripping and falling on an outstretched hand while running (n=44), followed by falling from monkey bars (n=11). Fractures were classified into grade 1 (n=25), grade 2 (n=60), grade 3 (n=16), grade 4a (n=6), and grade 4b (n=1). 21 patients had associated fractures involving the olecranon, proximal ulna, and/or the humeral supracondyle. The time from injury to treatment ranged from 0 to 7 days. Treatments included casting without manipulation (n=86), closed reduction and casting (n=8), percutaneous Kirschner wire-assisted reduction and casting (n=7), and open reduction and casting (n=7). Patients were followed up for a mean of 2.7 (range, 1-5) years. Outcome was excellent in 93 patients, good in 11, and fair in 4. Higher fracture grades correlated positively with poorer outcomes (p=0.001) and more invasive treatment (p=0.001). Nonetheless, the post-reduction angles of all the patients were not significantly different (p>0.05). Older children sustained more severe fractures (p=0.04) and had poorer outcomes, even after correction for fracture grade (p=0.007). Patients with associated fractures had significantly poorer outcomes (p