What are the benefits and harms of different types of immobilization for common distal radius fractures in children?

BEEM Bottom Line

Why is this study important?

This study is the largest meta-analysis of wrist fracture management in pediatrics. Wrist fractures are the most common bony injury in children, and among the various types, the buckle fracture of the distal radius is the most common. There is considerable variation in methods and duration of immobilization for this heterogeneous group of fractures, from soft splints to surgical pins with above elbow casting, with associated impacts on recovery, cost, complications, and quality of life. This study breaks down the evidence regarding the management for buckle and displaced wrist fractures in terms of immobilization type and anatomical location.

Which, if any, threats to validity are most likely to have an impact on the results and how?

Thank you for your interest in the BEEM Journal!

To read the rest of this article or to access the entire collection of BEEM Critical Appraisals, please purchase a subscription at the link below.

If you would like a pre-view, click here to view some sample articles

Premium Content Available Through Subscription

BEEM is a knowledge translation project which aims to extract the most recent, EM relevant, and valid evidence from the volumes of available medical research and deliver it to EM practitioners in an easily consumable format to help guide their clinical practice. This valuable distilled information provided by BEEM is available through BEEM's accredited CME courses or through our online journal.

A BEEM Journal Subscription will provide you with unlimited access to our entire collection of Critical Appraisals for 1 year.