Schulte
Fakultäten » Medizinische Fakultät » Kinderspital Zürich: Medizinische Klinik » Notfallabteilung » Dr. Georg Staubli » Schulte
Completed research project
| Title / Titel | Forearm fractures in children: is primary splitting of the cast necessary | ||||||
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| Abstract (PDF, 14 KB) | |||||||
| Original title / Originaltitel | Vorderarmfrakturen bei den Kindern: Ist das primäre Spalten des Gipses nötig | ||||||
| Summary / Zusammenfassung | Fractures of the forearm are the most common fractures of childhood and often require reduction. Various methods of cast immobilisation have been recommended in order to prevent the recurrence or increment of angulation or displacement. The methods include above- and below-elbow casts of white plaster (plaster of Paris) or synthetic material, most of the times circular, with or without splitting, with or without moulding (cast index) and with or without wrist angulation (against initial fracture angulation or displacement). Currently there is no clear consensus regarding treatment of these fractures. The current standard of care at our institution for reduced fractures of the forearm is the circular above-the-elbow synthetic cast (SoftScotch® 3M™) with primary splitting, wrist angulation and no forearm moulding. Primary splitting potentially reduces the risk for complications of posttraumatic swelling such as soft tissue damage, compartment syndrome and acute carpal syndrome. Theoretically the plasticity of the semirigid cast minimises the risk of raised pressure inside the cast. On the other hand the necessary manipulation and consequent increased instability both potentially compromise the fracture alignement. Furthermore splitting the cast is time consuming, thus prolonging the patient’s procedural sedation or anaesthesia and absorbing human resources. The aim of this study is to investigate whether omitting primary splitting of the cast in paediatric forearm fractures causes more complications. To our knowledge currently there are no available studies addressing this question. |
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| Keywords / Suchbegriffe | forearm fracture, splitting, cast | ||||||
| Project leadership and contacts / Projektleitung und Kontakte |
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| Funding source(s) / Unterstützt durch |
No project-specific funding |
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| Duration of Project / Projektdauer | Aug 2008 to Aug 2009 |