Surgical and Nonsurgical Pediatric Hand Fractures: A Cohort Study

Pediatric hand fractures are common and approximately 10% require surgery. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study reports on hand fractures in a large pediatric population and identifies the characteristics and patterns of fractures that required surgical correction. A χ(2) analysis was done to evaluate the association between individual fracture variables and surgery. The STROBE checklist was applied. RESULTS: One thousand one-hundred seventy-three hand fractures were reviewed. Peak age was 16 years for boys and 14 years for girls. Most fractures were closed (96.0%) and nonrotated (91.3%), and had no concomitant soft tissue injury (72.7%). More than half (56.3%) were nonepiphyseal plate fractures; yet as a single diagnosis, Salter–Harris II fractures were most common (30.2%). The following variables were significantly associated with surgery: open fractures, rotational deformity, distal phalangeal fracture location, multiple fractures, oblique pattern, comminution, displacement >2 mm, intra-articular involvement, and angulation >15°. Most fractures required only immobilization and early range of motion (64.3%). Closed reduction was required in 22.7%. Minor surgery by the primary provider was performed in 3.2% of fractures. Surgery by a hand surgeon was performed in 9.8%. The most common patterns requiring surgery were proximal or middle phalanx head or neck fractures (38.2%) and metacarpal midshaft fractures (20.9%). The most common operation was open reduction internal fixation (52.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric hand fractures are common, but 90.2% do not require surgery and, as such, primary providers play a key role in management. Certain fracture variables and patterns are more likely to lead to surgery.