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

The study purpose is to investigate long-term biodegradation process of the polylactide-co-glycolide (PLGA) intramedullary nails, used in treating the forearm shaft fractures in children. The primary objective of the study is to determine the stage of biodegradation of the polylactide-co-glycolide intramedullary nails, compared with the time since operation.

Biodegradation is to be evaluated by using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Potential adverse events, being related to the biodegradation process of the implant, will be recognized: fluid accumulation, sinus formation, osteolysis, swelling, cyst formation and other soft-tissue reactions in the surroundings of the former fracture will be evaluated.

Radiographic recovery at least 4 years after the implant operation is secondary aims of the study. Radiographic investigation (plain radiographs in lateral and anterior-posterior views) are taken to evaluate 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 and remodeling of the angular and rotational alignment.

Clinical recovery in the long-term (at least 4 years) is another secondary aim of the study.

Prospective observational study will be performed. The study population comprises all the cases who were participating in the previous RCT ("BIOABSORBABLE INTRAMEDULLARY NAIL FIXATION OF FOREARM FRACTURES IN CHILDREN") and were therefore treated by means of biodegradable intramedullary nailing in years 2010 to 2015 (N=16).

All these patients will be invited and at least 4-year follow-up visit is performed at out-hospital clinics in the study institutions and radiographs and MRI will be taken. Flynn's criteria, MAYO elbow performance score and mini-DASH will be used. Health-related quality of life is to be analysed by using Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL). Visual analogue scale will be used for determining residual pain. A comprehensive analysis concerning the radiographic bone healing, according to Lane-Sandhu -scoring is determined and biodegradation of the implants, including the tricalciumphosphate tip will be evaluated by using MRI.

Number of Patients: N=15

Diagnosis and Main Criteria for Inclusion and Exclusion:

The study cases of the previous original research, described above, will be used to comprise the study population of the current project. The subject and/or guardian are invited to the study by a postal letter and by a call in case of no show. A signed and dated informed consent is required upon the participation.

Costs: The patients are to be investigated for long-term recovery according to the normal treatment protocol and no extra costs are caused for the patients or the institutes. The reason for further long-term follow-up and further imaging at four years' mark is that the implants were still visible in the patients at their last follow-up visit in two years' mark, in the previous research that has been terminated.

Safety and ethical consideration:

There are no health-related issues in clinical investigation and MRI of the patients. The plain radiographs of the upper extremities predispose the participants to radiation, with equivalence to 1-2 days of background radiation (www.stuk.fi, radiation doses). However, radiographs are not taken of gravidae females.

The study causes burden for the participants due to follow-up visit. In case of children and adolescents, the parents' presence is appreciated. However, long-term follow-up is justified because of the history of several injury and invasive surgical treatment performed and in order to certain the final degradation of the used implant.

Statistical Methods:

The radiographic and clinical findings will be reported in descriptive means. The mean, range and standard deviation (SD) will be reported for the continous variables. The issues in the short-term recovery and the potential association between the short-term findings and long-term results are analysed by using the SND test for independent variables. Further, the association of the clinical findings and subjective symptoms with the degradation stage of the implants will be investigated. Other appropriate statistical methods may also be used. All P-values are two-tailed and the level of significance is set as <0.05.