Remodeling of forearm fractures in children

A prospective study of 42 children with forearm fractures, treated by closed reduction and plaster, was conducted to assess the remodeling capacity of the radial epiphyseal plate after union of fracture with angulation. The children's ages ranged from 3 to 15 years. The effect of residual angulation of the healed fracture on the distal radial epiphyseal plate was examined radiographically over a median follow-up time of 3 years and 2 months, to observe the behavior of the distal radial epiphyseal plate during remodeling and to identify the factors that influenced this process. On the basis of these findings, guidelines are proposed for the treatment of forearm fractures that have healed with residual angulation. The inclinations of the distal radial epiphyseal plate on the fractured and normal forearms were compared on anteroposterior and lateral radiographs, at union and at final follow-up, in both the radioulnar and the dorsovolar planes. An alteration of inclination was seen in all patients with dorsovolar angulation of the radial growth plate, which always tended toward a correction of the abnormal inclination. In diaphyseal fractures, the distal radial epiphyseal plate realigned well only in children aged < or = 10 years, whereas with distal radial fractures, realignment of the epiphyseal plate and restoration of function was uniformly good up to age 15. Diaphyseal fractures, with radioulnar angulation in the growth plate, did not seem to remodel completely and were associated with loss of motion, whereas in distal fractures, irrespective of the final inclination of the epiphyseal plate, the range of motion returned completely at the end of follow-up. Abnormal angulation in the radioulnar plane was poorly corrected in all patients. These results could be helpful in the treatment of forearm fractures that are positioned or have healed in residual angulation.