Treatment of flexion-type supracondylar humeral fracture in children

B Garg, A Pankaj, R Malhotra, S Bhan
Department of Orthopaedics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India

PURPOSE. To assess the results of treatment for flexion-type supracondylar humeral fracture in children.

METHODS. The treatment of 14 children with flexion-type supracondylar humeral fracture was reviewed. Severity was classified according to the Gartland system for extension-type fractures. Type-I fractures were treated with immobilisation in an extension cast. For type-II and -III fractures, closed reduction was first attempted followed by percutaneous pinning. If closed reduction failed, open reduction and internal fixation was performed.

RESULTS. Patients were followed up for at least one year (range, 14-36 months). Treatment results were excellent in 7 patients, good in 4, fair in 3, and poor in none. Patients were pain-free and satisfied and none suffered any activity restriction.

CONCLUSION. Closed reduction and percutaneous pinning is a good treatment option for type-II and -III flexion-type supracondylar humeral fractures.