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

ABSTRACT

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