The Journal of Children's Orthopaedics reports that parents of children with forearm casts should be informed about how the cast will effect activities of daily living.  Their study showed that personal hygiene, dressing, making a snack and reaching for high objects were all effected in below or above elbow forearm casting.  The goal is to decrease pain in children (especially in younger children) by making parents aware of limitations. 

Pediatrics reports in the current issue on healthy children with frequent fractures (more than or equal to two fractures).  This study compared 68 children with frequent fractures and 57 children without fractures.  The results indicated a significant association between the frequent fractures and hypercalcuria (large amounts of calcium in urine).  The researchers recommend taking a dietary history in children with frequent fractures with a focus on calcium and vitamin D intake in addition to checking for pubertal delay and hypercalcuria. 

References:

Barak Aviv, Elhanan Bar-On, Daniel Weigl, Tal Becker and Kalman Katz. (2008) Children’s daily living activities during immobilization of upper-limb fractures with an above- or below-elbow cast.  Journal of Children's Orthopaedics Published online 3/6/2008.

Olney, Robert C., Mazur, John M., Pike, Leah M., Froyen, Melanie K., Ramirez-Garnica, Gabriela, Loveless, Eric A., Mandel, David M., Hahn, G. Alan, Neal, Kevin M., Cummings, R. Jay Healthy Children With Frequent Fractures: How Much Evaluation Is Needed? Pediatrics 2008 121: 890-897.

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