{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,19]],"date-time":"2026-09-19T03:45:58Z","timestamp":1789789558056,"version":"4.0.1"},"reference-count":22,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,3]],"date-time":"2025-04-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1743638400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Pediatr."],"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title>Purpose<\/jats:title><jats:p>This single-centre randomised clinical trial assessed the clinical efficacy and patient satisfaction of 3D-printed splints optimised via finite element analysis (FEA) for pediatric distal radius fractures.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title><jats:p>This retrospective study included 56 children diagnosed with forearm fractures at our hospital between August 2023 and August 2024. Those who underwent traditional U-shaped forearm plaster immobilisation were compared with those who received a customised 3D-printed splint. FEA was conducted based on the biomechanical characteristics of the forearm; the splint structure was optimised based on the analysis results and created via 3D printing. Outcomes were evaluated using the Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire and Wong-Baker Faces Pain Scale\u2013Revised. Forearm function was evaluated using the Mayo Wrist Score and radiological outcomes. A power calculation was not performed due to the exploratory scope and resource limitations of this preliminary study.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>The treatment costs significantly differed between the two groups (<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u2009=\u20090.001). In the Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire, the hot and sweaty item showed no significant difference (<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u2009<jats:italic>=<\/jats:italic>\u20090.089), whereas the last week's comfort (<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u2009<jats:italic>=<\/jats:italic>\u20090.001), first applied comfort (<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u2009<jats:italic>=<\/jats:italic>\u20090.004), weight (<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u2009<jats:italic>=<\/jats:italic>\u20090.001), itchiness (<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u2009<jats:italic>=<\/jats:italic>\u20090.015), smell (<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u2009<jats:italic>=<\/jats:italic>\u20090.003), and overall satisfaction items significantly differed between the two groups (<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u2009<jats:italic>=<\/jats:italic>\u20090.004). A comparison of the Mayo Wrist Score showed a statistically significant difference between the two groups after external fixation removal (<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u2009<jats:italic>=<\/jats:italic>\u20090.044). There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of the palmar tilt angle (<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u2009=\u20090.196), ulnar deviation angle (<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u2009=\u20090.460), or height of the radial styloid (<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u2009=\u20090.111).<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title><jats:p>Both 3D-printed splint and plaster cast fixation methods can effectively treat distal radial fractures in children, but the 3D-printed splint showed superior patient acceptance.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fped.2025.1559762","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,3]],"date-time":"2025-04-03T06:29:30Z","timestamp":1743661770000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":4,"title":["A clinical study on the application of three-dimensionally printed splints combined with finite element analysis in paediatric distal radius fractures"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"13","author":[{"given":"Cheng","family":"Xu","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Lefeng","family":"Wang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Meng","family":"Zhang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Xiao","family":"Li","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Kuang","family":"Li","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,3]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e16562","DOI":"10.1097\/MD.0000000000016562","article-title":"The efficacy, safety, and cost benefits of splints for fractures of the distal radius in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol","volume":"98","author":"Cui","year":"2019","journal-title":"Medicine (Baltimore)"},{"key":"B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1487","DOI":"10.3390\/children9101487","article-title":"Health-related quality of life after fractures of the distal forearm in children and adolescents-results from a center in Switzerland in 432 patients","volume":"9","author":"Liebs","year":"2022","journal-title":"Children (Basel)"},{"key":"B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"28","DOI":"10.1093\/bmb\/ldae014","article-title":"Pediatric wrist fractures: variations in management across countries. 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