[Pediatric fractures of the distal radius]

Fractures near the wrist account 3/4 of all forearm fractures. In most cases both of the forearm bones are fractured. A distal fracture of the radius, comparable to the radius fracture in loco typic of adults, does not occur in children for several reasons. Treatment with preliminary extension has shown benefits only in those cases, in which both forearm bones were fractured. Axis deviation of more than 10 degrees and an ad latus dislocation of more than 1/4 of the bone diameter must not be tolerated. The importance of the distal radioulnar joint as well as possible scar formation of the membrana interossea must be stressed. More than 80% of forearm fractures can be treated conservatively with good results. The other 16.5% must be treated operatively. The applied procedures also yield good and very good results in more than 90% of the cases.