Supracondylar fractures of the humerus in children

Abstract

Supracondylar fractures of the humerus need a precise treatment in order to obtain a satisfactory result because of the low bone remodeling associated with these injuries. It is important to use a systematic procedure for closed reduction and percutaneous fixation. A retrospective review of fractures treated using two K-wires from the lateral side was done in 77 patients with a mean age of 6.7 years (range, 1-13 years). Displacement of the fracture was classified as Gartland Type II in 39 patients (50.6%) and Gartland Type III in 38 patients (49.4%). The results according to Flynn criteria were excellent in 70 patients (90.9%), fair in three patients (3.9%) and poor in four patients (5.2%), with overall satisfactory results in 96.1% of the cases. In four patients there was secondary displacement of the fragments in internal rotation and three of these patients were operated on again, increasing fixation with a third K-wire either from the lateral or medial side. There were two nerve lesions (2.6%), and four patients (5.2%) had a pulseless pink hand that recovered when the fracture was reduced. In three patients (3.9%) infection developed. To obtain satisfactory results using this procedure, enough stability should be achieved, avoiding iatrogenic damage of the ulnar nerve.