Treatment preferences of orthopedic surgeons for closed, isolated middle-third diaphyseal long bone fractures without neurovascular injury in children: A cross-sectional survey

Objective: This study aimed to assess the treatment trends and the factors influencing the treatment methods of Orthopaedic Surgeons in closed, isolated, middle-third diaphyseal long bone fractures without any neurovascular injury in children. Methods: This was a cross-sectional electronic survey of Turkish Orthopaedic Surgeons who were active members of the Turkish Society of Children’s Orthopaedics (TSCO) and still managing the children’s fractures in their daily clinical practice. An initial e-mail including the electronic survey followed by three reminder e-mails was sent to 110 members, and then reminder telephone calls were made. Results: The survey response rate was 66/110 (60%). In recent years, a definitive trend to surgical treatment was not seen 98%, 77%, 39%, and 88% of the responders in the closed humerus, forearm, femur, and tibia mid-shaft fractures, respectively. Neither the years of expertise nor the intensity of daily pediatric patients of the participants did not affect the treatment trend in any fracture scenarios. The patient’s age was the most cited factor influencing the responders’ decisions on whether conservative or surgical treatment would be performed in each fracture scenario. The most cited lowest age limits for surgical treatment inclosed mid-shaft fractures of the humerus, forearm, femur, and tibia, were the adolescent age group, 10-12 years, six years, and ten years, respectively. Conclusion: This is the first study assessing the daily clinical practice of members of TSCO in the management of closed, isolated, non-complicated middle-third diaphyseal long bone fractures in children just before the covid-19 pandemic started. A marked tendency toward surgical treatment is seen in femur mid-shaft fractures, followed by forearm mid-shaft fractures up to a certain level. The patient’s age is the main determinant of the responders’ decisions on the type of treatment in closed, isolated, non-complicated middle-third diaphyseal long bone fractures in children.