Elshahhat A. Post-operative imaging in pediatric distal radius fractures: When tradition meets evidence. World J Orthop 2025; 16(8): 109620 [DOI: 10.5312/wjo.v16.i8.109620]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Amr Elshahhat, MD, PhD, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mansoura University, Algomhoria Street, Mansoura 33516, Dakahlia, Egypt. amrelshahat@mans.edu.eg
Research Domain of This Article
Orthopedics
Article-Type of This Article
Editorial
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Orthop. Aug 18, 2025; 16(8): 109620 Published online Aug 18, 2025. doi: 10.5312/wjo.v16.i8.109620
Post-operative imaging in pediatric distal radius fractures: When tradition meets evidence
Amr Elshahhat
Amr Elshahhat, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mansoura University, Mansoura 33516, Dakahlia, Egypt
Author contributions: Elshahhat A was responsible for the conception, literature review, drafting, critical revision, and final approval of the manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The author has no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Amr Elshahhat, MD, PhD, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mansoura University, Algomhoria Street, Mansoura 33516, Dakahlia, Egypt. amrelshahat@mans.edu.eg
Received: May 16, 2025 Revised: May 30, 2025 Accepted: July 9, 2025 Published online: August 18, 2025 Processing time: 84 Days and 7.1 Hours
Abstract
Routine postoperative radiographs after surgical fixation of pediatric distal-radius fractures have long been part of standard care. Yet growing evidence shows that these images rarely change management in stable cases, adding unnecessary cost, radiation exposure, and clinical burden. A recent study highlights this issue and questions whether routine imaging truly benefits patient outcomes. As orthopedic care shifts toward more patient-centered and value-driven models, there is increasing support for the judicious use of radiographs, reserving imaging for cases where clinical examination or patient symptoms suggest a potential problem. This shift would reflect a broader movement within orthopedic practice: Aligning tradition with necessity, and optimizing care based on evidence rather than habit.
Core Tip: Routine postoperative follow-up radiographs after closed reduction and cast immobilization or percutaneous pinning of pediatric distal radius fractures rarely influence clinical management. This editorial highlights the need for a more selective, risk-based imaging strategy that considers fracture stability, patient age, and reduction quality, aiming to reduce unnecessary radiation and costs while maintaining excellent outcomes.
