[Treatment of displaced supracondylar fractures of the humerus in children at the orthopaedic ward of the Children's Hospital in Kielce]

Abstract

Ninety five children in age from 4 to 12 years (61 boys and 34 girls) with displaced supracondylar distal humerus fractures were treated at the orthopaedic ward of The Children's Hospital in Kielce between I 2000-XII 2001. The method of choice was closed reduction and percutaneous fixation with Kirschner wires (74 children). We also used closed reduction and application of an above elbow cast (12 children), skeletal traction with fixation after swelling resignation (5 children), and open reduction and internal fixation (4 children). In 90 cases we did not observe any neurovascular disorders, and early functional results were good or satisfactory. 2 cases were associated with transient, postreduction radial nerve palsy. In 2 children surgical intervention was necessary due to external compression of the brachial artery in one case, and contusion with brachial artery spasm in another. In one girl we observed development of Volkmann's contracture (treated surgically with good functional result). The authors conclude that the closed reduction and percutaneous K-wire fixation can be used as a treatment of choice for displaced supracondylar fractures of the humerus in children.