Tibial shaft fractures in adolescents: analysis of cast treatment successes and failures.

Abstract

This study retrospectively analyzed cast treatment of 75 adolescent closed tibial diaphyseal fractures. The average age was 13.3 years (range, 10-17.4 years). Of the patients, 21% (16/75) required cast change/wedging in the clinic for loss of reduction, and three patients (4%, 3/75) injured in vehicular collisions had failure of cast treatment, requiring an unplanned surgical intervention. Initial and immediate postreduction radiographic deformities were greater (P<0.05) in patients who required cast change/wedging. Of the patients, 59% (44/75) required over 3 months of cast immobilization. Casting is successful in the majority of adolescent patients despite prolonged immobilization and the need for cast change/wedging.