DISPLACED SUPRACONDYLAR FRACTURES OF THE HUMERUS IN CHILDREN

In a 3-yr period, 101 children were admitted to hospital with supracondylar fractures of the humerus. Eighty-six were examined an average of 3.7 yr after the injury. Cases (47) were treated with closed reduction and plaster bandage. After an unsuccessful attempt at closed reduction, 39 cases were treated with percutaneous K-wire pinning and plaster. The cases treated with percutaneous pinning thus include the most severe fractures. The results at follow-up in these cases easily equaled those obtained by closed reduction of the less displaced fractures. They were also comparable with reported resluts of extension treatment and required only a few days of hospitalization.