Plaster Versus Ortho-Glass®: Does Initial Splint Material Matter in Pediatric Forearm Fracture Outcomes? A Randomized, Prospective Trial

Purpose: To determine whether splint material affects the success of non-operative management pediatric forearm fractures treated with sugartong splints.
 Methods: All patients aged 0-18 a traumatic fracture requiring reduction were enrolled prospectively and randomized to fiberglass or plaster splints. Patients closed physes, open, pathologic, non-displaced not reduction, >1 week after injury excluded. 230 met inclusion criteria, 90 140 fiberglass. stratified based on location fracture: distal radius (DRF), middle both bone (BBFFx), proximal BBFFx. Outcomes treatment evaluated radiographically clinically. Radiographic outcomes residual deformity at initial final follow-up. Clinical assessed by conversion surgery.
 Results: clinical similar between 97.4% all managed treatment. Only 2.6% required surgery, 1.1% in cohort 3.6% (p=0.41). No re-reduction sedation. At follow-up, 32.5% BBFFx 1.3% DRF healed “unacceptable” alignment according classically described guidelines.
 Conclusions: There is no difference effectiveness vs. splints for immobilization DRF. Rates surgery lower groups than previously described. However, there was trend toward treating “unacceptably” aligned non-operatively more research indicated long-term significance.