Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40432869›Full record

ArticleJournal of the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America2025

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Buckle Fracture Treatment.

Mehmet E Kilinc, Evan P Sandefur, Mosufa Zainab, Nicholas J Peterman, Andrea A Yu-Shan, Peter J Apel

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Mehmet E KilincMusculoskeletal Education and Research Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Institute for Orthopaedics & Neurosciences, Carilion Clinic, 2331 Franklin Road Southwest, Roanoke, VA, USA.
Evan P SandefurVirginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, 2 Riverside Circle, Roanoke, VA, USA.
Mosufa ZainabVirginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, 2 Riverside Circle, Roanoke, VA, USA.
Nicholas J PetermanMusculoskeletal Education and Research Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Institute for Orthopaedics & Neurosciences, Carilion Clinic, 2331 Franklin Road Southwest, Roanoke, VA, USA.
Andrea A Yu-ShanMusculoskeletal Education and Research Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Institute for Orthopaedics & Neurosciences, Carilion Clinic, 2331 Franklin Road Southwest, Roanoke, VA, USA.
Peter J ApelMusculoskeletal Education and Research Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Institute for Orthopaedics & Neurosciences, Carilion Clinic, 2331 Franklin Road Southwest, Roanoke, VA, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Based on the existing consensus in the literature, we have coined a term at our institution to describe optimal treatment for distal radius buckle fractures: Buckle Evidence-based Strategic Treatment (BEST). BEST includes a single provider visit, education, a removable wrist brace/bandage, no additional follow-up visits, and no additional X-rays. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many providers were pressured to reduce the number of in-person visits, promote physical distancing, and minimize in-person interaction with the healthcare system. It is unknown if a secondary effect of the COVID-19 pandemic was increased use of BEST practices and if there was a sustained effect. This investigation analyzed the adherence to BEST practices for treating distal radius buckle fractures in the pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 era. Methods: A retrospective cohort study of buckle fracture care was conducted across 2018-2019 (pre-COVID-19) and 2020-2022 (COVID-19 era). Subset analysis was also conducted for 2020 (peak COVID-19 era) and 2021-2022 (post-peak COVID-19 era). Adherence to BEST practices was assessed by chart review. The provider type was documented and subclassified into fellowship-trained pediatric orthopaedic surgeons, non-pediatric fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeons, and non-physicians. Analyses were performed using chi-squared testing. Results: A total of 602 distal radius buckle fractures met inclusion, with an average patient age of 9.4 years. Pre-COVID-19 BEST practice adherence was 11.15%. During peak COVID-19 era, adherence rates improved significantly to 41.18% ( Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a significant increase in BEST practice utilization for buckle fracture management across all provider types. Adherence to BEST practices varied significantly based on provider type, with pediatric fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeons having the highest level of adherence. This study demonstrates that external factors can impact treatment decisions for distal radius buckle fractures. Advocacy to change practice patterns for pediatric fracture care must first understand the factors that influence decision-making. Key Concepts: (1)The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with an increase in the adoption of BEST practices for the management of buckle fractures across all provider groups.(2)Fellowship-trained pediatric orthopaedic surgeons have the highest level of BEST practice adherence compared to other provider types.(3)Initiatives aimed at altering clinical practice must prioritize an understanding of the decisional factors affecting healthcare providers. Level of Evidence: III.

Indexed as

BEST practicesCOVID-19Management of buckle fracturesPediatric distal radius buckle fracturePractice patterns

Identifiers

PMID40432869
PMCPMC12088341

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.