Reduction of radial-head subluxation in children by triage nurses in the emergency department: a cluster-randomized controlled trial

This report has been verified by one or more authors of the original publication.

245 children with presumed diagnosis of radial-head subluxation were treated by either triage nurses or physicians in the emergency department in this cluster-randomized controlled trail, based on day of presentation. The purpose of this study was to determine whether nurse-initiated treatment was inferior to physician-initiated treatment with respect to the success rate of reduction. Results indicated that nurse-initiated treatment was associated with a lower rate of successful reduction, and was thus, inferior to physician-initiated treatment. However, stay in the emergency department was significantly shorter for patients treated by triage nurses.