The purpose of this study was to evaluate characteristics of reinjury following forearm fractures in adolescents. An Institutional Review Board-approved retrospective cohort study of forearm fractures (ages 10–18 years) treated by a single academic pediatric orthopaedic group from June 2009 to May 2020 was conducted. All both bone forearm (BBFA) and radius or ulna primary and secondary injuries were included. We excluded open, surgically treated, physeal, epiphyseal, and radial head/neck fractures. Demographics, injury characteristics, and radiographic data were recorded. We evaluated associations of ipsilateral same-site refracture (RE-FRACTURE) versus ipsilateral or contralateral different-site forearm fractures occurring as secondary later injuries (OTHER). Thirty-three of 719 patients sustained a secondary forearm fracture (4.6%; mean age, 11.5 years; M:F, 5.6:1). RE-FRACTURES, compared with OTHER forearm locations, were associated with a sports mechanism at time of original injury (P = 0.024) and mid-shaft position of fracture on the radius (77.6 vs. 29.8 mm from distal physis; P < 0.001) and ulna (72.0 vs. 27.2 mm from distal physis; P = 0.003). RE-FRACTURES also demonstrated increased radius to ulna distance between BBFA primary injury sites on anteroposterior (19.6 vs. 10.6 mm; P = 0.009) and lateral radiographs (19.6 vs. 10.5 mm; P = 0.020) compared with OTHER forearm locations. Residual angulation and fracture-line visibility were not significantly associated with secondary fracture. Ipsilateral same-site refractures tend to occur in adolescents within 1 year following treatment for widely spaced (>15 mm) and mid-shaft forearm fractures incurred during athletic activity. Further research may be warranted to evaluate biologic, bone health, or personality traits that may lead to secondary fractures of the pediatric forearm.

Background: The forearm is the most common site of fracture, and perhaps re-fracture, in the pediatric population. Although both bone forearm (BBFA) fractures represent approximately 30% of pediatric upper extremity fractures, little is known about BBFA re-fractures, particularly among youth athletes. Purpose: To evaluate characteristics of BBFA re-fracture and recurrent fractures. Methods: An IRB-approved retrospective chart review based on CPT and ICD-9/10 codes of forearm fractures (ages 10-18 years) treated by a single academic pediatric orthopedic group from June 2009 to May 2020 was conducted. All BBFA, radial, or ulnar fractures with ipsilateral same-site, or non-identical ipsilateral or contralateral forearm fracture were included. Demographics, injury characteristics, length of immobilization, timing of return to activity, and radiographic data (angulation, distance between radius fracture and ulna fracture [in mm], position of fracture within bone, and radiographic healing). An analysis was performed to evaluate associations of ipsilateral same-site re-fracture versus ipsilateral or contra-lateral non-identical site fractures. Results: Twenty-nine of 686 BBFA and distal radius fractures were identified to have recurrent fracture (4.23%), with an average age of 11.5 years and male-to-female ratio of 6.25:1. 67% of ipsilateral same-site re-fractures occurred within one year. The most common mechanisms of primary fracture were contact sports (40%) and tumbling (30%), and re-fracture occurred 182 days after original fracture. 52% percent of recurrent fractures were ipsilateral same-site re-fractures, while 48% occurred in a non-identical site, either ipsilaterally or contralaterally. The most common mechanisms of recurrent fracture were contact sports (38%), falls (38%), and tumbling (14%). Ipsilateral same-site re-fractures compared to other recurrent fractures, were significantly associated with a mid-shaft location (p=0.0029), increased radius to ulna fracture distance (21.14 mm versus 11.3 mm, p=0.0277) [Figure 1], and earlier occurrence following index fracture (re-fracture= 397.33 days versus non-identical recurrent fracture= 884.07 days, p=0.0056). Degree of angulation was not significantly associated with re-fracture. Conclusion: Recurrent fracture may occur at different times and locations following primary injury treatment. Ipsilateral same-site re-fractures tend to occur within the first year of treatment following mid-shaft fractures incurred during contact sports and tumbling, with widely spaced radial and ulnar fracture sites. Further research may be warranted to evaluate biologic, bone health, or personality traits that may lead to recurrent and re-fractures in pediatric forearm fractures. [Figure: see text]