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The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery British Volume
Vol. 83-B, Issue 4 | Pages 536 - 541
1 May 2001
Stiefel D Meuli M Altermatt S

The treatment of fractures of the neck of the radius in children is difficult, particularly if the angulation of the fracture exceeds 60°. Since 1994 we have used closed reduction and stabilisation with an intramedullary Kirschner wire in patients with grade-IV fractures according to the classification of Judet et al. In a retrospective analysis of a two-year period (1994 to 1996), 324 children with fractures of the elbow were treated in our department. Of these, 29 (9%) had a fracture of the neck of the radius; six were grade-IV injuries (1.9%). Five of the latter had an excellent postoperative result with normal movement of the elbow and forearm. One patient with a poor result had a concomitant dislocation of the elbow.

Our results suggest that closed reduction and intramedullary pinning of grade-IV fractures allows adequate stabilisation while healing occurs.