DO WRIST GUARDS PROTECT AGAINST FRACTURES

Study objective: To determine whether wrist guards increase the fractu re threshold for wrist and forearm fractures. Methods: We conducted a controlled, blinded experimental study using matched cadaveric arms-on e fitted with a wrist guard-dropped with the use of a device designed to simulate a fall. We measured the mean number of drops before the oc currence of fracture, mean height and velocity change to fracture, mea n kinetic energy, mean peak acceleration (in Gs), and summed impulse [ weight (kilograms) x Delta velocity (meters/second)] to fracture with and without wrist guards. Fracture severity was compared with the use of an ordinal ranking system and analyzed with the Mann-Whitney rank-s um test. Results: Wrist guards were associated with a statistically si gnificant increase in the number of drops, mean drop height, mean kine tic energy, and summed impulse required to cause a fracture. Fractures also tended to be less severe when wrist guards were used. Conclusion : The biomechanical evidence of a protective effect of wrist guards ag ainst wrist fractures seen in this study, coupled with previous epidem iologic evidence, is strong enough to warrant pediatricians, family pr actitioners, and emergency physicians to counsel skaters to use these devices when using roller skates, skateboards, or in-line skates.