Comparison of posterior and lateral surgical approach in management of type III supracondylar fractures of the humerus among the children.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To compare the results between posterior and lateral approaches in surgical treatment of the type III supracondylar humeral fractures in children. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective analytical study. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Two groups of patients who needed surgical treatment of type III supracondylar humeral fractures, 52 in posterior approaches and 30 in lateral approaches were followed up for 6 months, in Chaiyaphum Hospital between 2004 and 2007. RESULTS: The posterior approach had a shorter operative time than the lateral approach (p < 0.001). The overall scores by Flynn's criteria showed that good and excellent outcomes were 80.7% in the posterior approach group and 80% in the lateral approach group and there was no significant difference of complications. CONCLUSION: The posterior approach had a shorter operative time than the lateral approach but no significant differences were found in terms of results and complications.