[Marrow wiring in lower-arm fractures of children (author's transl)]

Wiring of the radius marrow in 96 children with fractures of the lower arm or radius always gave adequate stability compared with purely conservative treatment (54 children). Any danger of delayed discovery of secondary dislocation with all its risks can thus be definitely excluded. The method is safe and relatively quick, done in conjunction with any necessary repositioning. Hospitalisation is reduced to a few days,until soft-tissue swelling has gone. Open alignment is indicated only very rarely, in otherwise unresponsive fractures. The small scar at the wrist is acceptable even for girls.