Orthopedics Book

Fracture Management

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Forearm Fracture

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  1. Signs
    1. Usually shortened and displaced
  2. Complications
    1. High rate of non-union in adults
  3. Management: Adults
    1. Displaced forearm Fractures
      1. May attempt closed reduction
      2. Open reduction and Internal Fixation (ORIF)
        1. Usually indicated
        2. Length of immobilization is shorter
    2. Non-displaced forearm Fractures
      1. Long arm cast with elbow at 90 degrees for 8-12 weeks
  4. Management: Children
    1. Surgical intervention rarely needed
    2. Reduction Technique
      1. Light Anesthesia
      2. Angulated Fractures
        1. Traction and Counter traction
        2. Greenstick Fractures
          1. Often require breakage of opposite cortex
          2. Prevents re-angulation in cast
      3. Displaced Fractures
        1. Traction and Counter traction
        2. Slight bayonet apposition is acceptable
        3. Alignment must be satisfactory
    3. Immobilization in Long Arm Cast for 7-8 weeks
      1. Elbow flexed to 90
      2. Mold forearm to avoid interosseus encroachment
  5. Follow-up
    1. Examine at weekly intervals for 3 weeks
    2. Inspect for re-angulation
      1. Angulation under 2 weeks
        1. Correct angulation manually
      2. Angulation over 2 weeks
        1. Angulation may be permanent

[X]Fracture of forearm, unspecified (C1305215)

ConceptsInjury or Poisoning (T037)
EnglishForearm fracture, Fracture of forearm
Spanishfractura del antebrazo
Parent ConceptsFracture of upper limb NOS (C0178316), Forearm Injuries (C0016537), [X]Fracture of forearm, unspecified (C1305215)
SourcesNCI, SCTSPA, SNOMEDCT
Derived from the NIH UMLS (Unified Medical Language System)



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