Introduction:Redisplacement following fracture reduction is a known sequela during the casting period in children treated for distal radius fracture. Kirschner wire pinning can be alternatively used to maintain the reduction during fracture healing. This study was conducted to compare the outcomes at skeletal maturity of distal radius fractures in children treated with a cast alone or together with a Kirschner wire transfixation. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study involving 57 children with metaphyseal and physeal fractures of the distal radius. There were 30 patients with metaphyseal fractures, 19 were casted, and 11 were wire transfixed. There were 27 patients with physeal fractures, 19 were treated with a cast alone, and the remaining eight underwent pinning with Kirschner wires. All were evaluated clinically, and radiologically, and their overall outcome assessed according to the scoring system, at or after skeletal maturity, at the mean follow up of 6.5 years (3.0 to 9.0 years). Results: In the metaphysis group, patients treated with wire fixation had a restriction in wrist palmar flexion (p=0.04) compared with patients treated with a cast. There was no radiological difference between cast and wire fixation in the metaphysis group. In the physis group, restriction of motion was found in both dorsiflexion (p=0.04) and palmar flexion (p=0.01) in patients treated with wire fixation. There was a statistically significant difference in radial inclination (p=0.01) and dorsal tilt (p=0.03) between cast and wire fixation in physis group with a more increased radial inclination in wire fixation and a more dorsal tilt in patients treated with a cast. All patients were pain-free except one (5.3%) in the physis group who had only mild pain. Overall outcomes at skeletal maturity were excellent and good in all patients. Grip strength showed no statistical difference in all groups. Complications of wire fixation included radial physeal arrests, pin site infection and numbness. Conclusion: Cast and wire fixation showed excellent and good outcomes at skeletal maturity in children with previous distal radius fracture involving both metaphysis and physis. We would recommend that children who are still having at least two years of growth remaining be treated with a cast alone following a reduction unless there is a persistent unacceptable reduction warranting a wire fixation. The site of the fracture and the type of treatment have no influence on the grip strength at skeletal maturity.

Introduction: Submuscular plating after lengthening shortened the period of external fixation in distraction osteogenesis of the femur. In the femur, where monolateral or ring fixators had been used for the distraction, plates, could be inserted laterally, anteriorly or medially. Specific technical modification of the plate insertion, however, would be necessary to accommodate the femoral varus angular correction created at the end of the distraction, in the pelvic support osteotomy lengthening. Material and Methods:We reviewed a series of eight cases with standard and modified techniques of plating after lengthening. The amount of lengthening, the period of distraction, the external fixator index and the associated complications were assessed. Results:The mean lengthening was 5cm, with a range of 3cm to 9cm. The external fixation index, the period of external fixators in days in relation to the length of distraction in cm, was between 18 days/cm to 58 days/cm. One patient with quadriceps contracture, underwent quadriceplasty to improve knee flexion. Three patients with transient knee stiffness had resolution with aggressive physiotherapy. One patient with transient hypoesthesia recovered spontaneously. None of the patients developed joint subluxation, deep infection, re-fracture or implant failures. Conclusion:Standard and modified techniques of plating after lengthening were safe and required only a short period of external fixation. The modified technique offered an easier way of plate insertion in a deformed bone.