Wrist and hand fractures

Abstract

Children sustain fractures of the wrist and hand because they are vulnerable parts of the body during everyday activity, particularly in the older child. Distal forearm fractures account for 40% while phalangeal fractures account for 20% of all paediatric fractures [1]. Twenty-five percent of phalangeal fractures are physeal [2], second only to the distal forearm and wrist. Emergency staff will therefore find themselves dealing with these fractures on a regular basis, ideally with both efficient and knowledgeable help from orthopaedic and plastic surgical colleagues. © Springer-Verlag London Limited 2010.