Outcome of reduction of paediatric forearm fracture by emergency department clinicians

Jared Gursanscky; Anne-Maree Kelly; Ahmad Hamad; Andrew Tagg; Sharon Klim; Peter Ritchie; Ian Law; David Krieser

doi:10.1111/1742-6723.14162

Outcome of reduction of paediatric forearm fracture by emergency department clinicians

Emerg Med Australas. 2023 Apr;35(2):347-349. doi: 10.1111/1742-6723.14162. Epub 2023 Jan 3.

Authors

Jared Gursanscky¹, Anne-Maree Kelly^{2

3}, Ahmad Hamad⁴, Andrew Tagg¹, Sharon Klim², Peter Ritchie¹, Ian Law¹, David Krieser¹

Affiliations

¹ Western Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
² Joseph Epstein Centre for Emergency Medicine Research, Western Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
³ Department of Medicine - Western Health, Melbourne Medical School, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
⁴ School of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

PMID: 36596645
DOI: 10.1111/1742-6723.14162

Abstract

Objectives: Paediatric forearm fractures are common. Anecdotally, there is a trend towards ED reduction of selected fractures under procedural sedation. We aimed to determine the rate of subsequent operative intervention for fracture re-displacement.

Methods: Retrospective observational study of children with a forearm/wrist fracture undergoing fracture reduction in ED. Outcome of interest was operative intervention for fracture re-displacement within 6 weeks.

Results: Among 176 patients studied, operative intervention occurred in nine patients (5.1%, 95% confidence interval 2.7-9.4%).

Conclusion: Reduction of paediatric forearm fractures under procedural sedation by ED clinicians is increasingly common and results in a low rate of subsequent operative intervention.

Keywords: emergency department; fracture; manipulation; paediatric.

Publication types

Observational Study

MeSH terms

Child
Emergency Service, Hospital
Forearm
Forearm Injuries* / surgery
Humans
Radius Fractures* / surgery
Retrospective Studies
Ulna Fractures* / surgery