Outcome of operative treatment of displaced lateral condyle fractures of the humerus in children in relation to time of presentation
International Journal of Development Research
Outcome of operative treatment of displaced lateral condyle fractures of the humerus in children in relation to time of presentation
Received 19th April, 2019; Received in revised form 26th May, 2019; Accepted 03rd June, 2019; Published online 31st July, 2019
Copyright © 2019, Dr. Mustafa Jlood Hamza et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Background: Lateral condyle fractures in children are the second most common fracture around the elbow. The problem arises in those cases which are difficult to treat by cast or by close reduction with percutaneous pin fixation. Late presentation is another challenge. We were select surgical treatment for such cases up to 12 weeks to evaluate our results. Aim: The short term outcome of usefulness of open reduction and k –wire fixation of displaced, unstable with or with rotation of lateral condyle fractures of humerus in children presenting up to 12 weeks post injury. Late presentations of lateral humeral condylar fractures, between 4-12 weeks, are candidate to open reduction and internal fixation? Can be included or not? Method: In this prospective study a series of eighteen patients were treated using technique of open reduction and internal fixation by k- wire and casting of displaced lateral humeral condyle fracture (Jakob II and III) from January 2016 upto January 2017.The results were assessed by criteria of Hardacre et al after follow-up between three and eighteen month. The patients were dividing into three groups according to time of surgery from date of injury; less than 1 week, between 1-4 weeks and 5-12 weeks. Results: Excellent results were observed in six (60%) and good in three (30%) of ten patients presenting at less than one week post injury with poor result of one (10%) patient. In four patients presenting between one week to four weeks, the results were excellent in three (75%), and poor in one (25%) patient. In four patients presenting at more than four weeks the result was good in two (50%) and excellent in two (50%) patients. Conclusions: Open reduction and internal fixation is an effective treatment in all cases of displaced fractures of the lateral condyle of the humerus presenting up to 12 weeks post injury on the basis of high union and low surgical complications rate.
