Comparative Study between Elastic Nail Versus Plates and Screws in the Treatment of Diaphyseal Both Bone Forearm Fracture in Children

Objective: Compare between titanium flexible nail and plate fixation for fracture both radius and ulna regarding the operation time, time of union, functional outcome and complications for each method. Materials and Method: A prospective comparative study, involved 44 children with displaced fractures of the radius and ulna were reviewed. Group1; (23 patients)underwent closed reduction-intramedullary fixation. Whereas, Group2; (21 patients)underwent open reductioninternal fixation with plates. Patients were followed up for 24 weeks. Results: Both treatments achieved excellent clinical outcomes and union rate, flexible intramedullary nailing showed better cosmoses, shorter operating and discharge times but the disadvantage is radiation exposure. Conclusion: Both titanium elastic nail and compression plates and screws can be expected to yield excellent results and are proper for treating pediatric forearm shaft fractures. Intramedullary nailing was safe, effective, and easy to do in the management of both-bone forearm shaft fractures in children.