Reducing Healthcare Costs in the Management of Pediatric Metacarpal Neck Fractures

: We hypothesize that a quality improvement initiative utilizing a Velcro ulnar gutter brace over traditional casting will impart significant savings without compromising clinical outcomes in the management of small metacarpal neck fractures. Methods: Baseline data on number and treatment regimens of small metacarpal neck fractures were collected starting in October 2015. Velcro ulnar gutter braces were purchased for all orthopedic clinics in December 2016. Patients with 65%. These patients did not have a scheduled follow-up or further radiographic evaluation. In the first 26 months of implementation, this decreased healthcare expenditures by $261,846. Conclusions: A quality improvement initiative emphasizing Velcro ulnar gutter brace treatment for pediatric metacarpal neck fractures resulted in a shift away from cast immobilization in >65% of patients, reducing risks and expenses of cast immobilization.