To determine whether closed treatment of both-bone midshaft forearm fractures routinely results in acceptable clinical outcome for children less than 16 years of age, we retrospectively studied all such patients treated at our two hospitals between 1970 and 1982. All children less than 10 years of age at the time of fracture had excellent results. Of 14 patients between the ages of 10 and 16 years, closed treatment failed in nine. We conclude that the incidence of poor results from closed treatment of the fractures in children greater than 10 years of age is seriously underestimated.