Functional outcome in surgical management of supracondylar fracture of humerus in children

Abstract

Background: Supracondylar fracture of humerus is an extra-articular fracture occurring in the distal metaphyseal region of humerus. It is almost exclusively a fracture of the immature skeleton, seen in children and young teenagers. Surgical treatment is reserved only for a failed closed reduction, fractures with neurovascular injuries and open fractures. These fractures need a precise treatment approach in order to obtain satisfactory result and to avoid complications. The purpose of our study is to determine the functional outcome of the surgical management of displaced Supracondylar fracture of humerus.Methods: This is a prospective study among 30 patients of age group 5-12 years diagnosed with displaced Supracondylar fracture of Humerus who were operated during the period from December 2017- March 2019.All of them underwent Closed/Open reduction internal fixation with medial and lateral K-wires fixation followed by early mobilization of elbow. Follow up was done on OPD basis 6 month post operatively. Clinical and radiological assessment was done and Flynn’s criteria was used to evaluate the final results.Results: Out of 30 patients, 23 were males and 7 were females. The age distribution in our study was 3 to 15 years. Maximum patients in our study were from 5-12 years of age group. The mean age of the patients was 7.97 years.22 had injury over Left elbow and 8 had injury over Right elbow. According to Flynn’s criteria, 24 patients (80 %) had excellent result, 5 (16.67%) had Good result and 1 (3.33%) had fair result. None had poor outcome.Conclusion: We can conclude that closed/open reduction with cross k-wires fixation is an excellent modality of treatment and surgery of choice in partially and completely displaced Supracondylar fracture of Humerus.