Fracture of Distal Radius and Ulna Healed With Shortening of One Bone. Clinical Significance at Skeletal Maturity

The fractures of distal forearm are the most common trauma in children. Sometimes one of the bones becomes shortened as a result of fracture fragments overlap. When some amount of shortening exists, concern regarding relationship of distal radio-ulnar joint (DRUJ) arises. The common opinion is expressed in one of the textbooks and is represented by one sentence, which usually one bone shortening is well tolerated, probably does not cause a problem, and does not have clinical significance. However, pathology of ulna plus or minus variants is well described and may cause ulno-carpal abutting syndrome or radiocarpal pain. This concern may lead to more aggressive approach in treatment of a fracture, with attempts to make an equal bone length. We did not find in the literature study that investigates this problem. We postulate that obvious shortening of one bone may cause an inequality of DRUJ and can be clinically significant.

Study Overview

• Status: Terminated
• Conditions: Forearm Injuries

Detailed Description

We will evaluate the x-ray films of children that at the time of the injury were between the ages 1 day and 12 years. The selection of the x-ray films will be done based on the specific codes of the wrist x-rays (Ulna or Radius).

The evaluation will be merely to children that were treated in our hospital from 1996 to 2000.We are aiming to find cases when the fractures were healed with 1cm or more of shortening of one of the forearm's bones (Radius or Ulna).

We are going to compare these cases with another 20 patients with the same characteristics as the latter groups on the exception that their fractures were healed without shortening. The two groups will be matched by age, gender and the same diagnosis.

These patients will be summoned to the clinic when they are adult in respect to the skeletal maturity. The patients will be evaluated, including clinical examination of the hand wrists (left and right), motion rang, motor muscle function, description of abnormalities if there are and x-ray of both wrists.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 20

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Israel
  • Jerusalem, Israel
    • Hadassah Medical Organization

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 15 years to 18 years (Child, Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Boys and girls that are at lest 12 years old at the time of the wrist fracture.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Children that had had Ulna or Radius X-rays
• Signing Informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

- Unwillingness to sign informed consent.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Cohort
• Time Perspectives: Prospective

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Hadassah Medical Organization
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Naum Simanovski, MD, Hadassah Medical Organization

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: September 1, 2008

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 26, 2007
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 26, 2007
• First Posted (Estimate): June 27, 2007

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): July 21, 2009
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 20, 2009
• Last Verified: June 1, 2009

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: FRACTURE OF DISTAL RADIUS
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Wounds and Injuries; Arm Injuries; Forearm Injuries
• Other Study ID Numbers: SIM04-HMO-CTILL