Percutaneous Pinning In Displaced Supracondylar Fracture of Humerus in Children

Abstract

Background: To study the importance of percutaneous pinning for the treatment of displaced supracondylar fracture of humerus in children.
Patients and Methods: This study was conducted at Orthopaedic Unit of Prince Ali Hospital, Alkarak, Jordan from 2000 to 2005. All the children in this study were between 2 and12 years of age, and presented with closed and displaced supracondylar fracture of humerus within 24 hours after fracture. Children with compound fracture or fracture with vascular injury were excluded. All the children had percutaneous pinning of the fractured humerus. Outcome measures were according to Flynn criteria i.e. loss of elbow motion & carrying angle.
Results: A total of 30 patients were studied. There were 21 male (70%) and 9 females (30%).The left side was predominantly involved in 24 (80%) patients and right in 6 (20%). Twenty eight patients (93%) had extension type and 2 (7%) had flexion type of fracture. Our result showed excellent outcome in 20 (67 %), good outcome in 6 (20 %) and poor outcome in 4 (13 %).
Conclusion: Percutaneous pinning is safe, cost effective, time saving and provides greater skeletal stability with excellent results.


Keywords: Percutaneous Pinning, Supracondylar fracture, Humerus fractures.

African Journal of Paediatric Surgery Vol. 3 (1) 2006: pp. 35-37