FUNCTIONAL OUTCOME OF CLOSED DISPLACED SUPRACONDYLAR FRACTURE OF HUMERUS IN CHILDREN TREATED WITH CLOSED REDUCTION AND PERCUTANEOUS PINNING – A PROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Background: Supracondylar humeral fractures are the most common fractures around elbow in children. The incidence is equal in both sexes with left or non-dominant side being most frequently injured. 96 to 98% are extension type and the exion type is far less common. Displaced supracondylar fractures are notorious for difculty in reduction, maintenance of reduction and frequent involvement of neurovascular structures. Material and methods: A prospective observational study was conducted on sixty children with closed displaced supracondylar fracture of humerus treated with closed reduction and k wire xation, between May 2016 and June 2018. Children aged between 3 and 15 years, radiological nding conrming displaced supracondylar fracture of humerus were included in this study. Children with less than 3 years of age, physeal injury or intraarticular extension, open fractures, polytrauma of the same limb, previous fracture of the same elbow, fracture requiring open reduction and inability to give written informed consent were excluded in this study. All patients underwent closed reduction and percutaneous pinning within 24 hours of admission. The functional outcome was measured by the range of motion and carrying angle by using Flynn et al criteria. Results: Of 60 patients, 73.3% had excellent results, 18.3% had good, 5% had fair and 3.3% patients had poor results. Conclusion: Closed reduction and percutaneous pinning under C arm guidance is a simple and effective method of treatment of displaced supracondylar fractures of humerus in children with relatively fewer short term complications.