Study of clinical and radiological outcomes in paediatric supracondylar humerus fractures treated with 3 lateral pins versus crossed pins

Abstract

Paediatric supracondylar fractures can be challenging to treat and are the most common elbow fractures in children. The most common method of treatment of displaced supracondylar humerus fractures is closed reduction and fixation with Kirschner wires. However, debate still persists regarding the configuration of pin placement for fracture stabilisation. This study compares clinical and radiological outcomes in paediatric supracondylar humerus fractures treated with three lateral pin fixation and crossed pin fixation. It is a prospective study with 60 patients conducted between March 2015 and September 2016. In this study, it was found that there is no significant difference between crossed medial and lateral pin fixation and lateral entry three pin fixation in terms of stability. Lateral pinning is a considerably safer procedure to avoid iatrogenic ulnar nerve palsy. Results show that the Baumann’s Angle was well maintained with significantly lesser chances of varus collapse following cross pinning as against lateral pinning.