Prevalence of treatment complications conservative versus surgical treatment of ulna and radius shaft fractures in children under 10 years old.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Shaft fractures of the radius and ulna are the third most common fracture in the pediatric population and represent 13-40% of all fractures. Both conservative and surgical therapeutic alternatives could present complications that prevent adequate fracture consolidation or functionally limit the forearm.

METHODOLOGY: This study used a quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional, retrospective approach to analyze the clinical histories and radiological reports of 110 children under 10 years of age treated at the Alcívar Hospital from 2016 to 2020.

RESULTS: 81.2% of the children studied are between
6 to 10 years, the peak age is 7 years, and most (67.3%) of the cases are male. The leading cause of fracture was falling from their height, with 82% of cases. 11.8% of patients had complications, these being more prevalent in children treated surgically compared to those treated conservatively (13% vs 10%).

CONCLUSION: The percentage of complications in general is lower than that proposed in our study.