Treatment of Children's Forearm Shaft Fractures With Biodegradable Intramedullary Nailing, Compared With Elastic Stable Intramedullary Nailing

This is a prospective observational clinical study in two centers in Finland. The study cannot be executed in a blinded fashion, because all patients treated by the study method will be invited. The study purpose is to investigate long-term biodegradation process of the polylactide-co-glycolide intramedullary nails, used in treating the forearm shaft fractures in children. It is aimed to determine the stage of biodegradation of the polylactide-co-glycolide intramedullary nails, compared with the time since operation and the potential complications and/or radiographic and clinical recovery at least 4 years after the implant implementation. Close clinical recovery is another objective of the study. Potential adverse events, being related to the biodegradation process of the implant, are to be evaluated: fluid accumulation, sinus formation, osteolysis, swelling, cyst formation. Further, the soft-tissue reaction in the surroundings of the former fracture will be evaluated. Radiographic recovery will be be evaluated in means of plain radiograph investigation (plain radiographs in lateral and anterior-posterior views). The signs of bone healing after the long-bone diaphysis fracture, including the resolution of the previous callus formation, tubularization of the long-bones around the previous fracture area, remodeling of the angular and rotational alignment will be analyzed.