Radiological evaluation of the stability of crossed-pins versus lateral-pins fixation in displaced supracondylar fractures of humerus

To compare the radiological evaluation of stability of closed reduction of supracondylar fractures of humerus treated by percutaneous two-crossed-pin fixation and 2-lateral pin fixation. Randomized controlled trial. Orthopedic Unit Hayatabad Medical Complex Peshawar, from January 2008 to July 2009. Fifty patients with displaced supracondylar fracture of humerus presented between ages 1-12 year were randomly allocated in two groups of 25 patients each and were subjected to crossed-pin fixation and 2-lateral pin-fixation. Primary outcome measure was determined with the help of Baumann angle. Secondary outcome measure was determined with the help of Metaphyseal-Diaphyseal [MD] angle. Mean age of patients was 7.02 +/- 2.25 year. Mean loss of Baumann angle and Metaphyseal Diaphyseal angles were 5.360 +/- 2.220 and 2.420 +/- 1.250 respectively. The mean Baumann angle loss in the two cross pins fixation group and the 2-lateral pins fixation group were 5.56° +/- 1.80° and 5.16° +/- 2.64° respectively. The mean MD angle loss in the two crossed pins fixation group and the 2-lateral pins fixation group was 2.440 +/- 1.220 and 2.400 +/- 1.230 respectively. When loss of Baumann and Metaphyseal-Diaphyseal angles were compared between two methods of fixation using Student t test, no significant difference in the stability of two methods of pin fixation was observed. Radiological analysis showed that both the techniques were effective in terms of stability