Elbow fracture showdown: surgery vs. casting in kids

NCT ID NCT05131672

Recruiting now Disease control Sponsor: Joseph Janicki Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jul 01, 2026 · Last updated Jul 02, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This trial compares two treatments for a specific elbow fracture in children aged 7 to 17: surgery to fix the broken bone with pins or screws, or simply wearing a cast. The goal is to see which approach leads to better arm function and less pain. Children with a fresh medial epicondyle fracture (within 10 days) can join, and their families choose or are randomly assigned to one of the two treatments.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) or cast immobilization

What this could lead to

If successful, this could show that casting is as effective as surgery for these fractures, sparing children from an operation.

What could go wrong

This is a single trial with 334 participants, and results may not apply to all fracture types or ages. Surgery carries infection and nerve injury risks; casting may lead to slower healing or misalignment.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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