The results of surgical treatment of the supracondylar humerus fractures in children

The most common fractures in children are supracondylar humerus fractures after distal radius fractures. They include 50-75% of elbow and its peripheric fractures. They?re mostly seen school ages(7-11). Generally extension type fractures seen after falling on open hand. They require close follow-up subsequent to successfull treatment, because of having a great risk ofmany complications. Many treatment methods have been described for the treatment of displaced supracondylar fractures of the humerus, however it has not been reached a consensus for the choice of the treatment. The basic aim in treatment is to gain full range of motion and to obtain normal elbow appearence in terms of cosmetic.In this retrospective study, 50 pediatric patients (24 boys,26 girls ; mean age 9.95 years; range 3 - 14 years) evaluated who are treated due to displaced supracondylar humerus fractures in our clinic. İn twentyfour patients right side affected, while left side affected in twentysix patients. Fractures evaluated according to Gartland classification and only type III fractures were included to the study. All patients had extension type fractures. Etiology of trauma was simple fall in all patients. At last controls the measurements of Baumann angle, lateral humerocapitellar angle, elbow carrying angles had no significant differencess.According to Flynn et al. criteria the functional results were perfect in 48 (96%) patients, one is good (2%) ,one is poor (2%) while the cosmetic results were perfect in 48 (96%) patients, good in 2 (2%) patients.Although closed reduction percutaneous kirshner fixation technique has some advantages such as less surgical trauma, preserve fracture hematoma, Our study had showed that open reduction and percutaneos pinning through a lateral approach permits definite fracture reduction and was effective and safe in the treatment of Gartland type 3 fractures with high success rate and low complications rate.