Open medial placement of Kirschner wires for supracondylar humeral fractures in children.

Purpose: To assess the efficacy of our protocol for treatment of displaced Gartland type-3 supracondylar fractures of the humerus in children.

Methods: Records of 43 children with displaced Gartland type-3 supracondylar fractures of the humerus admitted from October 1997 to October 2003 were reviewed. Patients were treated within 12 hours of admission by closed reduction (n=33) or open reduction (n=10). Crossed medial and lateral Kirschner wires through a medial approach were used in all patients. A 3-cm incision was made medially to identify the correct entry point of the medial wire, and thus prevent ulnar nerve injury. The incision was extendable for open reduction if closed reduction was unsuccessful.

Results: The mean age of the 43 patients was 7.2 years (range, 2-14 years). The mean follow-up period was 48 months (range, 12-84 months). 83% of the fractures occurred in boys. All fractures were closed, extension type, with 28 (65.1%) involved the right elbow. No patient had iatrogenic ulnar nerve injury. All patients showed satisfactory results according to Flynn criteria.

Conclusion: If closed reduction is unsuccessful, open reduction and open medial placement of crossed Kirschner wires can provide reliable results. The small medial incision provides a viewing point for entry of the wire and prevents iatrogenic injury of the ulnar nerve. It is cosmetically more acceptable and can be extended to facilitate open reduction.