Is Closed Manipulative Reduction and PercutaneousKirschner Wiring of Supracondylar Humeral Fracture inChildren as Day-Care Surgery a Safe Procedure ?

摘要

Introduction:Supracondylar fracture of the humerus is a common injury in children. It accounts for 60% of fractures around the elbow children. If the fracture is not treated properly it may give rise to many complications like malunion, Volkmann’s ischemic contracture, nerve injury, arterial injury, skin slough, heterotopic bone formation , and stiffness of elbow. The management of displaced supracondylar fracture of the elbow is one of the most difficult of the many fractures seen in children. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the anatomical and functional results of treatment of supracondylar fractures of humerus with closed reduction and percutaneous ‘K’ wire fixation as a day care procedure and record associated complications, thus decreasing the cost of treating these fractures and hospitalization. Methods: Fifty displaced closed extension type supracondylar fractures (Gartland’s type III) of the humerus in children were treated by closed reduction andpercutaneous fixation with Kirschner wires. All the patientsselected for this study had been treated in a day care unit andwere discharged in the same evening and followed up at 3and 6 weeks and 3 months. Open fractures, fractures withneurovascular complications and children older than 15 yrswere excluded. The final results were evaluated by Flynn’scriteria. Results: The majority (72%), of the patients hadfracture displaced posteomedially, Fourty one of the fiftypatients had satisfactory results. The majority of the patientswere male, and the average age was 8-9 years. Conclusion:Percutaneous fixation of supracondylar humerus done as aday care procedure is an acceptable modality of treatmentand reduces the duration of hospital stay for the patient.Key WordsSupracondylar humerus, K-wire fixation, day care procedure