Volume 92, Issue 4 pp. 666-673
REVIEW ARTICLE

Re-fractures of the paediatric radius and/or ulna: A systematic review

Ameya Bhanushali MBBS

Corresponding Author

Ameya Bhanushali MBBS

Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Correspondence

Dr. Ameya Bhanushali, Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma, Royal Adelaide Hospital, 42 William St, Clarence Park, Adelaide, SA 5031, Australia.

Email: [email protected]

Contribution: Data curation, Formal analysis, ​Investigation, Writing - original draft, Writing - review & editing

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Evelyn Axelby MBBS, BDS

Evelyn Axelby MBBS, BDS

Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma, Lyell McEwin Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Contribution: Data curation, ​Investigation

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Prajay Patel MBBS

Prajay Patel MBBS

Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma, JKC Hospital, Barsana, India

Contribution: Data curation, ​Investigation, Methodology

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Rabieh Abu-Assi MBBS

Rabieh Abu-Assi MBBS

Centre for Orthopaedic and Trauma Research, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Contribution: Data curation, ​Investigation

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Belinda Ong MBBS

Belinda Ong MBBS

Centre for Orthopaedic and Trauma Research, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Contribution: Data curation, ​Investigation

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Christy Graff MBBS, FRACS

Christy Graff MBBS, FRACS

Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Centre for Orthopaedic and Trauma Research, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma, Women's and Children's Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Contribution: Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Methodology, Supervision, Writing - review & editing

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Manuel Kraus MD

Manuel Kraus MD

Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma, University Children's Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland

Contribution: Conceptualization, Data curation, Supervision

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First published: 22 September 2021
Citations: 2
A. Bhanushali MBBS; E. Axelby MBBS, BDS; P. Patel MBBS; R. Abu-Assi MBBS; B. Ong MBBS; C. Graff MBBS, FRACS; M. Kraus MD.

Abstract

Background

Fractures of the radius and/or ulna are one of the most common injuries in children. Evidence identifying risk factors for refracture, however, has not been summarised in a systematic review. Guidance for counselling patients and parents to minimise the risk of refracture is limited. The aims of this study are to 1) to determine if casting time 6 weeks or less is a risk factor for refracture after paediatric radius and/or ulna fractures, 2) to identify other risk factors for refracture after paediatric radius and/or ulna fractures and 3) to develop more accurate guidelines for counselling parents after a radius and/or ulna fracture in their child.

Methods

A thorough search was performed in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines for systematic review. JBI Critical Appraisal checklists were used for risk of bias assessment.

Results

Diaphyseal both-bone fractures treated non-surgically should be casted for longer than 6 weeks. Surgically treated patients can be casted for less than 6 weeks. Diaphyseal and greenstick fractures have a higher risk of refracture. Residual angulation and incomplete healing in greenstick fractures may lead to a higher risk of refracture. Gender does not affect refracture risk. Falls, use of wheeled vehicles, playground activities and trampolining confer high-risk of refracture. Refracture risk is greatest up to 9 months from initial fracture.

Conclusion

Further case-controlled studies with sub-group analysis are required to further investigate risk factors for refracture after radius and/or ulna fractures in children.

Data availability statement

The data from which the results of this study were determined may be made availableby request.

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