Open intramedullary Kirschner wire versus screw and plate fixation for unstable forearm fractures in children
1Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Haydarpasa Numune Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. drozkankose@hotmail.com
Purpose:
To compare the outcomes of intramedullary Kirschner wire versus screw and plate fixation for unstable forearm fractures in children aged older than 10 years.
Methods:
Records of 32 children aged 10 to 15 (mean, 12) years with displaced fractures of the radius and ulna were retrospectively reviewed. 17 boys and 4 girls underwent intramedullary Kirschner wiring, whereas 10 boys and one girl underwent plating. All patients had been initially treated with closed reduction and casting. Indications for surgical intervention were fractures with angulation of >10 degrees and total displacement. Patients were followed up for a mean of 24 (range, 13-40) months. Angulation and range of movements of the elbow, wrist, and forearm, as well as clinical and cosmetic results were compared.
Results:
Both treatments achieved excellent clinical outcomes, but intramedullary Kirschner wiring resulted in better cosmesis, shorter operating times, easier hardware removal, and lower implant costs.
Conclusion:
Intramedullary Kirschner wiring is a better option than plating for the treatment of unstable forearm fractures in older children.
More Related Videos
04:41Treatment with Locking Intramedullary Nailing for Intertrochanteric Fracture of the Femur Utilizing a New Awl with a Distal Positioner
Published on: June 6, 2025
11:21Development of a Novel Internal Fixation Model for Rat Radial Fractures: Fracture Healing Assessment and Dorsal Root Ganglion Isolation
Published on: March 13, 2026
