Pediatric distal radius fractures and triangular fibrocartilage complex injuries

Management of distal radius fractures is guided by the pattern and location of injury, degree of deformity, and expectations of bony remodeling based on the amount of remaining skeletal growth.Indications for surgical treatment include unstable or irreducible fractures, open fractures, floating elbow injuries, and neurovascular or soft-tissue compromise precluding cast immobilization. Patients and families should be counseled regarding the potential for post-traumatic distal radial growth arrest following physeal fractures. In these cases, epiphysiodeses, ulnar shortening osteotomies, or corrective radial osteotomies may be performed, depending on the pattern of arrest,degree of deformity, and remaining skeletal growth.TFCC tears may be the source of ulnar-sided wrist pain in children and adolescents, though symptoms and physical examination findings maybe subtle. Patients who have persistent pain and functional limitations despite activity modification and therapy are candidates for surgical treatment. Appropriate repair of peripheral TFCC tears with correction of concomitant wrist pathology restores normal wrist anatomy, alleviates pain, and allows for return to functional activities.