DISPLACED SUPRACONDYLAR HUMERAL FRACTURES;

TREATMENT AMONG CHILDREN: CROSSED VERSUS LATERAL PINNING

Abstract

Objective: To compare outcome of patients with supracondylar fractures of humerus treated by cross k wires and lateral
entry k wires in children. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial study. Place and duration of study: January 2012 to December
2012 at Department of Orthopedics, Nawaz Sharif Social Security hospital, Lahore. Subjects and Methods: Two hundred patients,
meeting the selection criteria were identified. These patients were divided into group A and group B randomly. In group A cross k wire
fixation and in group B lateral entry k wire fixation was performed. Loss of reduction was assessed and recorded in the immediate
postoperative period and three weeks later at the time of removal of k wires. Range of motion of the elbow, in the form of excellent outcome
was assessed at the end of 12 weeks postoperatively. Results: A total of 200 patients were included in the study. Loss of reduction was
found in thirty patients (30%) in group A and in forty one patients (41%) in group B. In group A, seventy two patients (72%) had excellent
outcome while twenty eight patients (28%) did not gain the desired range of motion at elbow. In group B, sixty five patients (65%) had
excellent outcome while in thirty five patients (35%), the desired range of motion at elbow was not achieved. No neurological injury
occurred with both configurations. Conclusions: Lateral entry k wire fixation is as effective as cross k wire in the treatment of displaced
supracondyler fracture of humerus in children.