• Pediatric emergency care · Aug 2024

    Volar Distal Radius Buckle Fractures: Is Bracing and Home Management Safe?

    • Meghana Nandigam, Margarita Chmil, Benjamin Patrick Thompson, Julie Balch Samora, and Lynne Ruess.
    • From the Radiology.
    • Pediatr Emerg Care. 2024 Aug 1; 40 (8): e159e163e159-e163.

    BackgroundA removable brace with home management is widely accepted treatment for distal radius buckle fractures, which most commonly involve the dorsal cortex.PurposeThe purpose of this study is to determine if a removable brace and home management treatment is safe for volar distal radius buckle fractures.Materials And MethodsIsolated distal radius buckle fractures in children (3-16 years) diagnosed at an acute care visit (April 1, 2019 to May 31, 2022) were identified. Final diagnosis was confirmed using strict criteria including cortical buckling without cortical breach or physeal involvement. Cortical buckling was categorized as either dorsal or volar. Demographic data, mechanism of injury, treatment, and any complications were recorded and analyzed.ResultsThree hundred thirty-three fractures were either dorsal (254, 76%) or volar (79, 24%) buckle fractures. Mean age (SD) for volar fractures (9.3 [2.2 years]; range, 4-14 years) was significantly higher than for dorsal fractures (8.5 (3.0 years); range, 3-15 years; P = 0.012). More girls had volar fractures (48 [60%], P = 0.006). Most fractures occurred after a standing-height fall. Two hundred forty-four (96%) dorsal and 76 (96%) volar fractures were initially treated with a removable brace. Two hundred fourteen (84%) dorsal and 66 (84%) volar fractures had orthopedic follow-up. Brace treatment continued for 167 (167/204, 82%) dorsal and 56 (56/63, 89%) volar fractures. Treatment changed from initial brace to cast for 37 (37/204, 18%) dorsal fractures and 7 (7/63, 11%) volar fractures, influenced by caregiver preference and/or sport participation requirements. Only 1 (1/79, 1%) patient with a volar fracture returned for an additional visit for persistent pain.ConclusionsWhen diagnosis of volar buckle fracture is made using the same strict criteria used for dorsal buckle fractures, removable brace and home management treatment is safe. Shared decision making with caregivers may alter buckle fracture treatment.Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

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