Abstract:[Objective] To compare the clinical efficacy of anterograde elastic intramedullary nailing versus and retrograde counterpart for distal radius metaphyseal fractures in children. [Methods] A retrospective analysis was performed on 40 children who had distal radius metaphyseal fractures fixed with elastic intramedullary nails from February 2018 to February 2023. According to doctor-patient communication, 20 patients were treated with anterograde elastic intramedullary nailing (AEIN), while other 20 patients were with retrograde elastic intramedullary nailing (REIN). The perioperative, follow-up and imaging data of the two groups were compared. [Results] All children in both groups had operation performed successfully. The AEIN group proved significantly superior to the REIN group in terms of operation time [(41.6±2.3) min vs (50.8±3.8) min, P<0.001], intraoperative fluoroscopy times [(11.0±1.8) times vs (12.5±1.3) times, P=0.011] and intraoperative blood loss [(4.2±0.8) mL vs (5.1±0.7) mL, P=0.002]. The mean follow-up time was of (14.5±1.1) months. Compared with that 3 months after surgery, the Gartland-Werlay score in the AEIN group had no significant change at the last follow-up (P<0.05), while which in the REIN group was significantly decreased (P<0.05). Wrist extension-flexion ROM, ulnar-radial ROM and pronation-supination ROM were significantly increased in both groups over time (P<0.05). The AEIN group was significantly better than the REIN group in Gartland-Werlay score [(1.0±1.0) vs (1.7±1.1), P=0.038] 3 months after surgery. As for images, the AEIN group was also significantly better than the REIN group in terms of fracture reduction quality [excellent/good/bad, (16/4/0) vs / 5 (10/5), P=0.039] and fracture healing time on imaging [<4 weeks /4~6 weeks / ≥6 weeks, (5/12/3) vs (7/3/10), P=0.013]. [Conclusion] Both anterograde and retrograde elastic intramedullary nails do achieve good clinical consequence for distal radius metaphyseal fractures in children. By comparison, the anterograde elastic intramedullary nailing is superior to the retrograde elastic intramedullary nailing.