<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Distal humeral fractures are one of the most common types of fractures in children, most of them being supracondylar. Supracondylar fractures are usually caused by trauma, most likely falls. It is an emergency, requiring rapid diagnosis and management to avoid serious complications. Recommended treatment modalities vary from no reduction and immobilization to open reduction and internal fixation. Kirschner wire (K-wire) fixation of displaced supracondylar fractures after closed reduction is a preferred method and is being performed for over 50 years now. This study was conducted to determine the functional outcome of crossed K-wire fixation in pediatric supracondylar fracture.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> This prospective study was conducted from May-November 2018 at the department of Orthopedics, Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. It was inferred that functional outcome of pediatric displaced supracondylar humeral fractures is satisfactory when managed with percutaneous crossed K-wire fixation. It included 83 children with supracondylar fractures. They were treated with percutaneous crossed K-wire fixation. Patients were then followed up to determine satisfactory functional outcome according to Flynn’s criteria. Data entry and analysis was done using SPSS 21.0.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> Eight-three patients were included. The mean±standard deviation age of this study population was 7.03±3.39 years. Out of the study participants, 47 (56.6%) were males and 36 (43.4%) were females. 71.1% of the patients were of Gartland class II fractures and 28.9% were of Gartland class III. 43.4% had an injury due to fall while playing while 19.3% had fallen from height. 80.7% were found to have a satisfactory functional outcome.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> It was inferred that the functional outcome of pediatric displaced supracondylar humeral fractures is satisfactory when managed with percutaneous crossed K-wire fixation.</p>
Open reduction and pinning for the treatment of Gartland extension type III supracondylar humeral fractures in children