Supracondylar fracture, buried vs non buried K wires.

Abstract

Supracondylar fracture of the humerus is the second most common fracture in children (16.6%), and is most common fracture around the elbow in children comprise (60%) to (75%) of all elbow fractures. There is very little data available about the burier of wires under the skin reduces the pin tract infection rate as low as 2.27%.² Objectives: To compare the frequency of pin tract infection between nonburied and buried K-wires after open reduction internal fixation in supracondylar fracture of humerus in children. Study Design: Prospective Cohort Study. Setting: Department of Orthopedics Surgery & Traumatology Allied Hospital Faisalabad. Period: From June 2014 - June 2017. Material & Methods: Patients were selected according to the inclusion criteria. All patients were registered in ER with a history of trauma and having the diagnosis of Supracondylar fracture. Two groups were made; Group A (Buried), Group B (Non-buried). They were followed for the signs of infection. Results:  Out of 80 cases 45 (56.3 %) were male and 35 (43.8 %) female. In group A (non-buried) there were 40 patients and Mean age was 7.57± 2.07 years, pin tract were infected in 8 (20%) patients and there were no pin tract infection in 32 (80%) patients. And in group B (buried) there were 40 patients and mean age was 7.38± 2.17 years, Pin tract was infected in 1(2.5%) patient and there were no pin tract infection in 39(97.5%). Conclusion: Our study showed that rate of infection is significantly reduced in burying of K-wires after open reduction and internal fixation of supracondylar fractures as compared to non-burying technique.