Affiliations: [a] Department of Orthopaedics, Kanuni Sultan Suleyman Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey | [b] Department of Orthopaedics, Medipol University Medical School, Istanbul, Turkey | [c] Department of Orthopaedics, Taksim Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
Correspondence:
[*]
Corresponding author: Serhat Mutlu, Department of Orthopaedics, Kanuni Sultan Suleyman Training and Research Hospital Atakent Mh., 1. Cd, 34303 Küçükçekmece, Istanbul, Turkey. Tel.: +90 0532 762 76 16; Fax: +90 212 571 47 90; E-mail:serhatmutlu@hotmail.com
Abstract: BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to measure the rotational
angle defect between fracture ends in paediatric forearm diaphyseal
fractures on radiographs. METHODS: Evaluations were performed on 78 paediatric patients who
presented at the emergency department with a diaphyseal forearm fracture
during 2013-2014. Thirty-two patients who underwent conservative treatment
and had < 10° of angulation and translation of not more than half the
bone diameter after application of a plaster cast were included in the
study. A rotational formula was used with diameter values to determine
changes. The degree of rotation of both ends of the fracture line and the
forearm rotational defect of the fracture line were calculated. FINDINGS: Fractures included an isolated radius in 16
cases, an isolated ulna in four cases, and both bones in 12 cases. The mean
lateral angular (LAT-θ) value was 26.13 ± 5.93° on the
proximal fracture end, and the distal mean LAT-θ was 30.29 ±
6.24° (p = 0.037).The mean proximal anteroposterior angular (AP-θ) value was 26.83
± 5.75°, and the distal mean AP-θ was 30.58 ±
7.27° (p = 0.008).
A significant correlation was detected between the AP-Δ
and LAT-Δ measurements (p = 0.883). INTERPRETATION: The rotational defect was mathematically calculated
directly from radiographs using a rotational measurement formula.
Keywords: Direct radiograph, forearm diaphyseal fracture, rotation measurement
