Displaced Supracondylar Fractures of the Humerus in Children

Abstract

In a 3-year period, 101 children were admitted to hospital with supracondylar fractures of the humerus. Eighty-six were examined an average of 3.7 years after the injury. Forty-seven cases were treated with closed reduction and plaster bandage. After an unsuccessful attempt at closed reduction, 39 cases were treated with percutaneous K-wire pinning and plaster. The cases treated with percutaneous pinning thus include the most severe fractures. Nevertheless, the results at follow-up in these cases easily equalled those obtained by closed reduction of the less displaced fractures. They were also comparable with reported results of extension treatment and, in contrast, required only a few days of hospitalisation.