Closed Reduction of Distal Forearm Fractures by Pediatric Emergency Medicine Physicians: A Prospective Study

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Pediatric Distal Forearm Fractures

In brief

Distal forearm fractures are amongst the most frequently encountered orthopedic injuries in the pediatric emergency department (ED). Immediate closed manipulation and cast immobilization, is still the mainstay of management. The initial management of non-displaced or minimally displaced extremity fractures and relocation of uncomplicated joint dislocations is part of the usual practice of emergency medicine. Although focused training in fracture-dislocation reduction techniques is a part of the core curriculum of emergency medicine training programs, there is limited data discussing outcomes following restorative fracture care by pediatric emergency medicine (PEM)physicians. The primary objective of this study is to compare length-of-stay and clinical outcomes after closed manipulation of uncomplicated, isolated, distal forearm fractures, by PEMs to those after manipulation by pediatric orthopedic surgeons. Our hypothesis is that there is no difference in emergency department length-of-stay when fracture reduction is performed by a PEM versus a post graduate year 3 or 4 orthopedic resident. Secondary outcomes that will be assessed include: loss of reduction needing re-manipulation at follow up, cast related complications, radiographic and functional healing at 6-8 weeks post injury.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT01101607

Run by

InMotion Orthopaedic Research Center

People needed

104

Starts

2008-04-01

Expected to finish

2010-04-01

Last updated by the study team

2010-04-12

Who can join

Age: 1 and older, up to 18. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• The inclusion criteria will include patients who present to LeBonheur Emergency room with an angulated or displaced distal radius fracture that meet standard orthopaedic criteria for manipulation. Distal forearm will be defined anatomically as the distal third of the radius or ulna.

You may not qualify if…

• The exclusion criteria will be patients with an open fracture, neurovascular compromise at presentation or who have undergone prior manipulation of their fracture. Prior manipulation of a fracture is defined when a patient has their fracture manipulated at an outlying facility prior to arriving to LeBonhuer emergency room.

Where it is running

• Lebonheur Medical Center — Memphis, Tennessee, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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