Journal List > J Korean Orthop Assoc > v.24(1) > 1114240

Chang, Lee, Lim, and Hong: A Clinical Study of Supracondylar Fracture of the Humerus in Children

Abstract

Supracondylar fracture of humerus is the most common fracture about the elbow in children and much has been written about its treatment and the prevention of both Volkmann's ischemia with contracture and cubitus varus deformity. In a retrospective survey of 155 children with supracondylar frscture of the humerus, 63 cases were found to have sufficient clinical and retrospective data to classify the fracture. 1. The average age was 6.5 years ranged from 1 year 3 months to 14 years and sex ratio was 2.2: 1(M:F) 2. 62 cases(98.4%) were extension type and 1 case(1.6%) was flexion type. In extension type, displacement was posteromedial 30 cases(47.6%), posterolatera117 cases(26.9%), posterior 10 cases(15.9%) and undisplaced 5 cases(7.9%). 3. Fracture level was divided into 3 Groups. Trans-olecranon fractures were 47 cases(74.6%), proximal to olecranon fractures were 11 cases(17.5%) and distal to olecranon fractures were 5 cases(7.9%). According to age distribution lower age group involves the distal part and higher age group involves proximal part. 4. Transverse fractures were 39 cases(61.9%) and oblique fractures were 24 cases(38.1%). In oblique fracture, postero-anterial oblique fractures were 19 cases(30.2%), medio-lateral oblique fractures 3 cases(4.8%), and latero-medial 2 cases(3.2%). In oblique fractures redisplacements were more common in P-A oblique csse. 5. In the treatment of fracture, 31 cases(49.2%) were treated with closed reduction and percutaneous pinning, 26 cases(41.3%) were treated with closed reduction and splint immobilization, 3 cases(4.8%) were treated with open reduction and K-wire fixation, 3 cases(4.8%) were treated with skeletal traction. 6. Functional results according to degree of initial displacement was worse in some displaced(Grade II) cases, rather than total displaced (Grade IV) or displaced with rotation (Grade III) cases. 7. Complications in splint immobilzation method were cubitus varus deformity 2 cases, nerve injury 2 case, and in k-wire fixation method, nerve injury 5 cases and pin migration 1 case.

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