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

ABSTRACT

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