Treatment of Displaced Supracondylar Fracture of the Humerus in Children

PURPOSE: To evaluate the radiological and clinical outcomes after operative treatment of displaced supracondylar fractures in children with lateral K-wire fixation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 69 displaced supracondylar fractures treated by closed reduction and percutaneous lateral K-wire fixation were included in this study. Carrying angle and range of motion were measured and graded by the Flynn criteria. To assess the accuracy of the reduction, Baumann angle and lateral humerocapital angles were compared to the contralateral side, and to evaluate the stability of fixation both measurements were taken immediately postoperatively and after K-wire removal. RESULTS: 55 cases (80%) were categorized as excellent and 12 cases (17%) as good. There were no significant statistical differences in Baumann angle and lateral humerocapital angle between postoperative and K-wire removal. Although there were 9 cases that showed differences in Baumann angle and 32 cases in lateral humerocapital angle of more than 10 degrees compared to the opposite side at the immediate postoperative radiograph, 9 cases showed satisfactory clinical results. CONCLUSION: Closed reduction and lateral K-wire fixation is considered as an acceptable modality of the treatment of displaced supracondylar fractures in children, and clinical outcome is more closely correlated with carrying angle and stability of fracture site rather than rotational deformity or hyperextension of fragment measured radiographically.