Nonoperative management of pediatric type I open fractures

• Published in: Journal of pediatric orthopaedics Vol. 25; no. 4; p. 513
• Main Authors: Iobst, Christopher A, Tidwell, Michael A, King, Wesley F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.07.2005
• Subjects: Adolescent; Anti-Bacterial Agents - administration & dosage; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Child; Child, Preschool; Drainage; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Forearm Injuries - classification; Forearm Injuries - diagnostic imaging; Forearm Injuries - therapy; Fracture Healing; Fractures, Open - classification; Fractures, Open - diagnostic imaging; Fractures, Open - therapy; Humans; Length of Stay; Male; Radiography; Radius Fractures - classification; Radius Fractures - diagnostic imaging; Radius Fractures - therapy; Retrospective Studies; Therapeutic Irrigation - methods; Time Factors; Trauma Severity Indices; Treatment Outcome; Ulna Fractures - classification; Ulna Fractures - diagnostic imaging; Ulna Fractures - therapy; Wound Infection - prevention & control
• ISSN: 0271-6798
• DOI: 10.1097/01.bpo.0000158779.45226.74

The purpose of this study was to examine the results of pediatric patients with type I open fractures managed nonoperatively. A retrospective chart review of all type I open fractures managed nonoperatively from 1998 to 2003 was performed. Forty patients were followed until healing of the fracture clinically and radiologically. One deep infection occurred in this series, producing an overall infection rate of 2.5%. This compares favorably with the literature's infection rate of 1.9% in pediatric type I open fractures treated operatively. There was a 0% infection rate in the 32 upper-extremity type I open fractures and a 0% infection rate in the 23 patients under age 12. These results suggest that nonoperative management of pediatric type I open fractures is safe and effective, especially in children under age 12 with upper-extremity fractures.