Displaced forearm fractures in children treated with AO plates

Internal fixation with AO compression plates was carried out in 8 per cent of all children with displaced diaphyseal fractures of the forearm. Primary treatment for 23 of these 43 fractures consisted of primary fixation. All fractures healed in anatomical alignment. Deep infection was observed in 1 child. All fractures united but 1 refractured . Of 29 children, 27 were reexamined after a mean observation time of 5 years; 22 had obtained normal function of the arm, and nobody had restriction of rotation of the forearm exceeding 20 degrees. The mean overgrowth of the bones was 2.4 mm. Fifty-six per cent of the children had discrepancies in the linear growth between the radius and the ulna in the fractured arms. These disturbances had no influence on the functional results. We conclude that internal fixation with AO plates is preferable when closed reduction fails or when secondary displacement cannot be corrected by repeated gentle manipulation.