Aim: A retrospective study to analyse the treatment of paediatric diaphyseal forearm fractures over the preceding 6 years and to assess if there was any difference in outcome between plate and elastic stable intra-medullary nailing (ESIN).

Material and Methods: Between January 1997 and December 2002, 144 unstable fractures required surgical fixation. 59 patients were treated with both-bone plate fixation, 55 patients were treated with single-bone plate fixation and 30 patients were treated with ESIN.

The mean age of surgery was approximately 12 with peaks at age 8 and 13 years.

In the plate group, 70% to 80% were undertaken by the SpRs and in the nailing group, approximately 50% were undertaken by staff grades; 30% by Consultants and 20% by SpRs.

Results: Between each group there was no difference in time spent in plaster, clinic attendance, time to clinical union and time to restoration of normal movements. On radiographic reviews, single-bone plate fixation patients united quicker than the both-bone plate fixation or ESIN groups. Average anaesthetic times became more prolonged from single-bone to ESIN to both-bone plate fixation.

Compound fractures were approximately 10% in both groups. There were hyper-trophic scars in approximately 10% in the plate group and 3% in the nail group. There were 3 compartment syndromes in the plate group and 2 compartment syndromes in the nail group.

In the plating groups, there was a higher rate of peri-prosthetic fracture, mal-union, hyper-trophic scarring, infection and neuro-vascular complications.

Conclusion: ESIN is superior to plating in relation to surgical complications. It is therefore recommended that elastic stable intra-medullary nailing should be used for displaced paediatric diaphyseal forearm fractures.