Change of Carrying Angle in Fracture of the Lateral Humeral Condyle in Children

From June 1980 to May 1986, 24 fractures of the lateral condyle of humerus in children ranging in age from 1 to 11 years were treated at the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kyungpook National University Hospital. Authors have been analized all cases of fractures clinically, especially the change of carryin angle by radiographic examination in follow-up periods. The results were as follows : 1. Fractures are more common in male than female. Mean age at time of fracture was 5.4 years. Fractures were predominated in the left side by 66.7%. 2. By the classification of epiphyseal injury, all cases were Salter-Harris type IV. By the classification of fragment displacement, Wadsworth type II fracture was most comrnon in 66.7%. They were treated with open reduction and internal fixation in 20 and with conservative treatment in 4. 3. The range of change in carrying angle was distributed from 9 degree decrease to 8 degree increase with a mean of 4.1 degrees. The range of change in carrying angle was influenced by degree of fragment displacement at the time of initial injury and longer period of follow-up. 4. The complications were lateral condylar voergrowth(20.8%), premature epiphyseal fusion(8.4%), snd nonunion(4.1%). By the criteria of Hardacre et al, 8 cases(33.3%) showed excellent result, 15 cases (6. 2%) showed good result, and 1 case (4.2%) showed poor result.