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[Intra-articular finger fractures in children].
1Chirurgische Klinik, Universitäts-Kinderspital Zürich.
Summary
Conservative treatment is often best for pediatric finger fractures, with surgery reserved for specific severe cases. This approach minimizes long-term pain and functional issues in children.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Pediatric Traumatology
Context:
- 140 pediatric patients with finger fractures were treated at a university children's hospital between 1982 and 1984.
- Intraarticular fractures accounted for 21.5% of these injuries.
Purpose:
- To analyze the outcomes of different treatment methods for pediatric finger fractures.
- To determine the long-term functional results and pain associated with various fracture types and treatments.
Summary:
- A follow-up study three years later revealed that 35.7% of patients experienced functional trouble or pain.
- Conservative treatment resulted in only 2 of 15 patients having issues, while 8 of 13 surgically treated patients had unsatisfactory outcomes.
- The study recommends conservative management for most finger fractures, except for Salter III/IV fractures, ulnar collateral ligament avulsions of the thumb, and dislocated fractures.
Impact:
- Findings suggest that conservative treatment, potentially with K-wire splinting, leads to better functional outcomes for pediatric finger fractures.
- Highlights the importance of careful treatment selection to avoid long-term complications in pediatric hand injuries.