[Emergency closed reduction and percutaneous Kirschner wire fixation for treatment of Gartland type II-III supracondylar fractures of the humerus in children].

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the clinical effect and related risk factors of Gartland type II-III supracondylar fractures of humerus in children in the emergency closed reduction and percutaneous Kirschner wire fixation.

METHODS

From January 2008 to June 2013,112 children of Gartland type II to III supracondylar humeral fractures were treated in children in emergency closed reduction and percutaneous K-wire fixation, including 72 males and 40 females with an average age of 6.2 years old ranging from 2 to 11 years old. Among them,74 cases were in Gartland type II fractures,38 cases were in type III; The duration from injury to surgery time was 2.5 to 8 hours (averaged 4.6 hours). Elbow cast was applied after operation with the elbow extended of 100 degrees for 4 to 6 weeks, then the gypsum and Kirschner wires were removed.

RESULTS

All patients were follow-up from 6 to 60 months (averaged 12 months). All fractures reached clinical healing. The final follow-up was assessed by Flynn criteria, the result was excellent in 86 cases, good in 23 cases, general in 3 cases, excellent and good rate was 97.3%. Three patients had mild cubitus varus deformity without orthopedic treatment. No pin tract infections, iatrogenic ulnar nerve injury, compartment syndrome, and complications such as Volkmann ischemic contracture occurred.

CONCLUSION

Closed reduction and percutaneous Kirschner wire fixation had advantages of exact reduction, firm fixation, fewer complications ,less pain in children undergoing emergency surgery, and.high success rate, so it is a safe and efficient treatment for humeral supracondylar fracture in children.