This 1998 narrative review by Noonan and Price synthesizes treatment principles for pediatric forearm and distal radius fractures, addressing the key clinical question: how much residual deformity is acceptable given the child's remodeling potential, and when does conservative management fail?
When managing a pediatric forearm fracture, use the child's age and fracture level to set your reduction threshold: a 7-year-old with a midshaft both-bone fracture can tolerate far more deformity than a 12-year-old with a proximal fracture.
Always bring the family back for repeat films at 1–2 weeks — reangulation is common and re-reduction is effective if caught early.
This 1998 narrative review by Noonan and Price synthesizes treatment principles for pediatric forearm and distal radius fractures, addressing the key clinical question: how much residual deformity is acceptable given the child's remodeling potential, and when does conservative management fail?
When managing a pediatric forearm fracture, use the child's age and fracture level to set your reduction threshold: a 7-year-old with a midshaft both-bone fracture can tolerate far more deformity than a 12-year-old with a proximal fracture.
Always bring the family back for repeat films at 1–2 weeks — reangulation is common and re-reduction is effective if caught early.