Intramedullary Nailing System in Unstable Both Bone Diaphyseal Fractures in Children

Background Forearm fractures in pediatric population is usually managed conservatively. Unstable fractures need operative intervention like closed or open intramedullary nailing or open reduction and internal fixation with plates and screws. However, there is no consensus regarding the method of treatment according to age group. Objective To standardize the use of elastic nailing system as effective form of treatment in terms of function, cost and lower complications as compared to widely used titanium nails in developed countries.Method Sixty eight pediatric patients with both bone forearm diaphyseal fractures were managed with closed reduction and intramedullary fixation with rush nail or k-wire and followed at least for 6 months for evaluation of radiological and functional outcome. Result Patients were divided into two age groups, Group A for age of 5 to 9 years (26 patients) and Group B for age of 10-15 years (42 patients). The mean time for union for Group A patient was 7.31 weeks which was significantly lower than that of Group B patients of 9.33 weeks (p-value < 0.05). All the patients in Group A had excellent outcome and 36 (85.7%) patients had excellent outcome and 6 (14.3%) had good outcome in Group B. 5 out of 68 cases (7.35 %) had minor complications (2 in Group A and 3 in Group B). The mean time for implant removal was 17.9 weeks in Group A and 22.9 in Group B. Conclusion Intramedullary fixation for unstable diaphyseal both bone fractures of forearm is safe and cost effective method of treatment with good to excellent functional outcome with union time being significantly lower in younger age group.