Clinical Analysis of Supracondylar Fracture of the Humerus in Children

Kim, Bu Hwan; Shin, Kyo Seog; Kim, Jae Hyek; Kim, Doo Jeong

Abstract

Supracondylar fracture of the humerus is the most common fracture of the elbow in children. There are many controversies about the methods of treatent. We analysed 41 cases of supracondylar fractures of the children from Jan. 1988 to Dec. 1990 according to the types of the fracture and methods of the treatment. The results were as follows . 1. Boys were more vulnerable to injury than girls by the ratio of 2.4 : 1, and all fractures were extension type. 2. The most common associated injuries were nerve injuries and all of them recovered spontaneously There were 2 cases of radial nerve palsies in patient with posteromedial displacements of distal fragments. 2 cases of median nerve palsies and 2 cases of ulnar nerve palsied with posterolateral displacements. 3. There were 30 cases of Excellent, 9 cases of Good and 2 cases of Fair results by the Flynn criteria. Only 7 cases showed limitation of elbow joint motion over 5 degrees after treatment. 4. We believe that percutaneous pinning was the choice procedure for treatment of displaced supracondylar fractures. The higher the severity, the poorer the result in Holmberg classification. 5. We used posterior approaches of 12 cases among 14 cases of open rdductions for anatomi. cal reduction of the fractures. We havent found and problem concerning the posterior approaches except some degrees of elbow joint motion limitations.