Surgical treatment of the displaced supracondylar fracture of the humerus in children using the medial approach

38 displaced supracondylar fractures of the humerus were treated by open reduction and internal fixation with two Kirschner wires using the medial approach. After an average follow up period of 6 months 90% of the cases had satisfactory results. The result was found to be significantly affected by the preoperative trials of manipulations to achieve closed reduction, the time delay before operation and the accuracy of reduction achieved during surgery. Among the complications met with were limitation of elbow movement in 26% and cubitus varus in 23.3% of cases

Operative treatment of displaced supracondylar fractures of the humerus in children by the posterior approach

Thirty displaced supracondylar fractures of the humerus in children were openly reduced and fixed by two Kirschner wires through the posterior approach. Four fractures were not manipulated before surgery, while 26 were manipulated from one to four times. The time delay before operation ranged from 2 to 20 days. Cases followed for 6 months and up to one year had satisfactory results in 63.6% of the cases. Cases followed for less than 6 months had 27.3% satisfactory results. Limitation of elbow movement [59.6%], changes in the carrying angle [40%] and heterotropic ossifications [3.33%] were among the complications met with in this series