The Presence of Associated Injuries in Pediatric Radial Neck Fractures: A Systematic Review of the Literature and Meta-Analysis of Pooled Individual Patient Data

Background: Pediatric radial neck fractures (pRNFs) can occur in isolation or in association with concomitant injuries. It is unknown whether the presence of associated injuries should influence the choice of treatment. The aim of this study is to assess the incidence of associated injuries in pRNF and their correlation with fracture angulation (Judet grade) or the patient’s age (under or over ten years of age). Methods: A systematic literature review was performed following PRISMA-IPD guidelines, including case series on pRNF with a minimum of five cases of children until 16 years of age. The quality assessment included a risk of bias analysis and evaluation using the MINORS criteria. Individual patient data on age, Judet classification and associated injuries were extracted from the included studies and pooled for the meta-analysis. The correlation between the presence of associated injury and the patient’s age or Judet classification was depicted in two forest plots. Results: A total of 20 articles published sufficient individual patient data (n = 371) on associated injuries. All but one were retrospective case series. Fifteen articles had MINORS scores of 8 or higher. The incidence of associated injuries was 33% (123 of 371 cases). Almost half of the associated injuries included an olecranon fracture (61/123). There was no correlation between Judet classification (p = 0.243) and incidence nor between patient age and the incidence of associated injuries (p = 0.694). Conclusions: Surgeons should be aware of potential associated injuries in over a third of pRNF cases, regardless of the patient’s age or fracture angulation. Deduction of the trauma mechanism may be a more useful tool for assessing the potential presence of associated injuries than the most frequently used fracture classification or the patient’s age. More research is needed regarding the requirements for enhanced diagnostic imaging, specific treatment or follow-up adaptations in children with pRNFs and associated injuries.