Treatment of torus fractures in the forearm in children using bandage therapy.

BACKGROUND: In a torus fracture, there is an intact cortex at the side of the fracture which gives more intrinsic stability than in greenstick fractures, where one side of the cortex is disrupted. Two previously done studies compared soft bandage therapy (BT) with cast therapy in the treatment of torus forearm fractures in children and showed this is safe and does not cause any complications. The aim of our study was to validate these studies by treating all patients presenting to emergency department with a torus fracture with BT and investigate whether any complications occur.

METHODS: At a single-center from January 2009 to June 2009, all patients with an impacted greenstick fracture of the distal radius and/or ulna without exception were treated using BT. Primary endpoint was secondary angulation; secondary endpoint was pain on Visual Analog Score.

RESULTS: Seven patients were misdiagnosed as torus fractures but were actually greenstick fractures and had to be excluded. A total of 49 patients with a torus fracture were included in statistical analysis. No fracture displacement was seen. Four patients needed an additional nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug or an antalgic plaster cast. The overall Visual Analog Score of the patients was lower than in previous studies.

CONCLUSIONS: Soft BT is safe in all children without risk of further angulation and with a pain score equal to cast therapy. Important is that misdiagnosis of the torus fracture at initial presentation should be minimized.