Intramedullary Implant Choice and Cost in the Treatment of Pediatric Diaphyseal Forearm Fractures.

OBJECTIVES

To compare outcomes and costs between titanium elastic nails (TENs), stainless steel elastic nails (SENs), and Kirschner wires (K-wires) in the treatment of pediatric diaphyseal forearm fractures with intramedullary fixation.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center.

PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: A total of 100 patients (65 male and 35 female) younger than 18 years with diaphyseal forearm fractures treated with intramedullary fixation were included in the study.

INTERVENTION

Patients received single or both bone intramedullary fixation with either TENs, SENs, or K-wires.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS

Time to radiographic union, complication rate, surgical time, and average cost per implant.

RESULTS

One hundred patients were included in the study. Thirty-one patients were treated with TENs, 30 with SENs, and 39 with K-wires. No significant difference in time to radiographic union, complication rate, or surgical time was found between the 3 types of fixation. Average time to union was 9.4 ± 5.4 weeks, and complication rate was 12.9% for TENs, 10.0% for SENs, and 12.8% for K-wires. There was a significant difference in cost per implant, with an average cost of $639, $172, and $24 for TENs, SENs, and K-wires, respectively (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates no difference between TENs, SENs, and K-wires in the treatment of pediatric diaphyseal forearm fractures with regards to outcome, time to union, surgical time, or complication rates. Given the significant cost difference between these implants, we recommend that surgeons consider modifying their implant selection to help mitigate cost.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.