Remodeling of angulated distal forearm fractures in children

Seventy children treated for distal forearm fractures were clinically and roentgenologically reexamined with a median follow-up time of 3.5 years (range, 1.5-6.0 years). The angulation of the fractures and of the epiphyseal plates was measured at the time of healing and at the follow-up examination. The patients were divided into three age groups of 0-5 years, 6-10 years, and 11-15 years at the time of fracture. In children younger than 11 years of age with residual angulation after distal forearm fractures, the change of orientation of the epiphyseal plate toward normal seemed to account for nearly all the actual correction at the site of fracture, up to 28 degrees. In children older than 11 years of age the capacity of correction of the orientation of the epiphyseal plate was preserved, but its influence upon the correction of distal forearm fractures decreased. This did not prevent correction of possible residual angulation at the fracture site--up to 18 degrees. This may be because, in this age group, appositional bone formation and resorption are the most important remodeling factors. The importance of the orientation of the epiphyseal plate is related to the distance between the fracture site and the epiphyseal plate and by the age of the patient.