Treatment of Displaced Supracondylar Fracture of Humerus in Children with Percutaneous Pinning in Misurata Central Hospital

Abstract

Background: Supracondylar fracture of humerus is the most common fracture in the first decade of life. There are various treatment modalities for this fracture; closed reduction and casting adhesive skin traction as described by Dunlop, overhead skeletal traction from the olecranon, closed reduction and percutaneous pin fixation, and lastly open reduction and internal fixation.

Aim: To evaluate the outcome of closed percutaneous pinning of displaced Supracondylar fracture of humerus in children.

Material and Methods: A retrospective study conducted at Orthopaedic surgery department of Misurata central hospital. The Records of 43 children with displaced supracondylar fractures of the humerus (Gartland type II & III ) admitted from April 2004 through April 2006 were reviewed. Outcome measures were based on Flynn criteria, namely loss of elbow motion & carrying angle.

Results: The mean age of the 43 patients was 7 years (ranging between 2-12 years).The mean follow- up period was 9 months (ranging between 3 - 18 months). 7o % of the fractures occurred in boys and 30% in girls. The involved side was right elbow in 32 cases (75%) and left in 11 cases (25%. 40 cases (95%) had extension type & 3 cases (5%) had flexion type of fracture. Gartland type II cases were 13 (30%) & type III cases were 30(70%). Our results showed excellent outcome in 28 patients (65)%,good outcome in 9 patients (21%) and poor outcome in 6 patients (14%).

Conclusion: percutaneous pinning of supracondylar fracture of humerus in children is safe, cost- effective, and time-saving and provides greater skeletal stability with excellent results.