Extract
Most carpal and hand injuries in children are treated nonoperatively. The
purpose of this lecture is to identify those clinical situations that require
operative intervention. Complications from pediatric hand fractures,
dislocations, and soft-tissue injuries are most commonly due to the failure to
identify and treat an injury requiring an operation acutely. This lecture will
also review surgical techniques for specific injuries of the carpus and hand
in children. With regard to the wrist, this discussion will include the
indications for open reduction of scaphoid fractures, treatment of scaphoid
nonunions, and arthroscopic examination and treatment of chondral and
ligamentous injuries. Distal injuries that are treated surgically include
Seymour fractures, phalangeal neck injuries, and intra-articular
fractures.