Ultrasound as a Diagnostic Tool in Paediatric Distal Forearm Fractures

Abstract

Aims To evaluate the accuracy of ultrasound in pediatric distal forearm fractures as well as the effect on the ED waiting time for these patients. Methods Convenience sample of 42 pediatric patients presented with wrist injury. All patients underwent US examination followed by 2-views radiographs of the wrist with recording the time to US. In addition, the time to X-ray were calculated, retrospectively, on 95 pediatric patients for comparison. Results Forty-two patients were examined, 25 males (60%) and 17 females (40%), mean age 7.2 years. On X-Ray, 30 patients (71%) were confirmed to have a distal forearm fractures, of which, 28 (93%) were diagnosed by US. The sensitivity of ultrasound diagnosis was 93.3% (95% CI, 83%-100%), and the specificity was 92% (95% CI, 76%-100%). The positive and negative likelihood ratios were 11.6 and 0.07, respectively. Conclusions Ultrasound is a reliable diagnostic tool in the diagnosis of distal forearm fractures in children. Ultrasound has radiation free and decreases the length of stay in ED.