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Several IM fixation implants for diaphyseal forearm fractures had similar outcomes
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Pediatric patients with diaphyseal forearm fractures treated with intramedullary fixation using either titanium elastic nails, stainless steel elastic nails or K-wires had no differences in outcomes, time to union, surgical time or complication rates, according to results published in The Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma.
Austin Heare, MD, and colleagues measured time to radiographic union, complication rates, surgical time and average cost per implant in 100 pediatric patients with diaphyseal forearm fractures treated with intramedullary fixation with either titanium elastic nails (TENs, n=31), stainless steel elastic nails (SENs, n=30) or K-wires (n=39).
Results showed no significant differences between the three types of fixation in time to radiographic union, complication rates or surgical time. Researchers noted an average time to union of approximately 9.4 weeks. Patients in the TENs, SENs and K-wire groups had complication rates of 12.9%, 10% and 12.8%, respectively. However, researchers found TENs had the greatest average cost at $639 per implant, followed by SENs at $172 and K-wires at $24.
“In our current state of health care, clinicians are being encouraged to implement more cost-conscious treatment plans,” Heare told Healio.com/Orthopedics. “As surgeons, it will become increasingly important that we modify our implant selection to help reduce cost, but that we do so without compromising the care of our patients. This study suggests that by utilizing K-wires, rather than more expensive implants in the treatment of pediatric forearm fractures, we can reduce implant cost without compromising patient care.” – by Casey Tingle
Disclosures: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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