J Korean Fract Soc.  1996 Jul;9(3):695-705.

Treatment of Supracondylar Fracture of Humerus in Children: Conservative vs Operative Treatment

• Sohn JM
• Chang JH
• An DH
• Eun SP
• Son HS

Abstract

Supracondylar fracture of the humerus is the most common fracture around the elbow joint in children, especially in the age from 4 to 9. 97% of the fractures are extension type and there are many problems in management such as the method of reduction and maintenance of reduction, Volkmanns ischemia, neurovascular injuries, cubitus varus or valgus deformity, and myositis ossificans etc. Currently the methods of treatment of supracondylar fracture include open reduction and pin fixation, closed reduction and percutaneous pin fixation, and closed reduction and immobilization by splint. 134 children with supracondylar fracture of humerus, conservatively 49 cases and operative 85 cases, were treated from January 1991 to October 1995 and were followed up for at least 6 months. We analyBed the type of fracture, method of treatment and results and concluded that accurate reduction, minimizing soft tissue injury and maintenance of reduction are important factors for gaining good results.

Keyword

Humerus; Supracondylar fracture; Pin fixation; Open; Closed reduction

MeSH Terms

Child*
Congenital Abnormalities
Elbow Joint
Humans
Humerus*
Immobilization
Ischemia
Methods
Myositis Ossificans
Soft Tissue Injuries
Splints