The treatment of displaced supracondylar fracture humerus (Gartland Type III) in children continues to be a challenging problem. We did a retrospective study of such fractures treated in Hospital Muar, over a 2 years period (from January 1998 to December 1999). A total of 42 cases with displaced supracondylar fractures, treated with open reduction and internal fixation were studied. All cases were operated using a posterior triceps splitting approach and crossed kirschner wires were used to stabilize the fracture site. An excellent outcome was seen in 34 patients (81%) and a good outcome in 7 patients (17%). The incidence of complications such as pin tract infection (14%), nerve injury (2%) was very low. None of the patients had vascular complications or myositis ossificans.
Thirty-nine displaced fractures of the lateral humeral condyle in children were followed for an average of 5 (2-5) years. The results were evaluated from functional and cosmetic aspects. Patients treated within 2 weeks by open reduction and internal fixation did well. Those operated on after 6 weeks did not do better than nonoperated on cases. Complications included cubitus varus and valgus deformities, osteonecrosis, nonunion and malunion, and loss of motion. We recommend that patients presenting late be left alone and any sequelae evaluated at a late stage.
Operative treatment for neglected fracture of lateral humeral condyle (LHC) is difficult because of contracted muscle, fibrous tissue formation, and indistinct bony edges. Its success depends on the ability to preserve blood supply during the surgery. We retrospectively reviewed eight cases of neglected fracture of LHC in children treated with open reduction with selected multiple 'V' lengthening of common extensor muscle and internal fixation. The patients were between 3 and 8 years of age. The period of neglect was between 3 and 20 weeks. Four patients with displacement of more than 10 mm and neglect for 5 weeks or more required lengthening of common extensor muscle aponeurosis. The follow-up assessments were between 1 and 6.3 years with a mean of 4.4 years. All patients had union by 2 months. They gained improvement of flexion range of motion between 60° and 120° with a mean of 86.3°. Loss of final range of motion compared with the normal side was between 5° and 35° with a mean of 10°. No patient had limitation of activities or pain. Six cases had excellent and two cases had good Dillon functional score. All patients had lateral condyle prominent with different severities. There was one mild avascular necrosis and one fishtail deformity. Both of them had almost full range of motion. All patients had early physeal closure, except one, who had only 1 year follow-up. There was no case of progressive valgus deformity. Children with neglected fracture of LHC would benefit from anatomical reduction and internal fixation through a proper exposure and if indicated combined with multiple 'V' lengthening of common extensor muscle aponeurosis. This is a level IV study.
Elbow instability is a common feature after medial epicondyle fractures, displaced or not, even in the absence of dislocation. Undisplaced or minimally displaced fractures often have an underestimated degree of instability secondary to unrecognised capsuloligamentous and muscular injuries. The purpose of this retrospective study was to analyze and to assess objectively the results of the surgical treatment of these acute injuries.
Distant haematogenous metastasis in penile cancer is rare. A patient who had total penectomy and bilateral inguinal lymphadenectomy for penile cancer but later presented with hypercalcemia of malignancy and pathological fracture of the humerus is reported.
Displaced humeral condyle fractures in children are traditionally fixed with smooth Kirschner wire at the expense of a risk of secondary displacement following removal of wire. Screw fixation of such fractures has recently been advocated as it provides stable fixation. We have been using screw osteosynthesis for treatment of displaced lateral humeral condyle fractures in children in our institution since the turn of this century. This study provides a midterm review of treatment of such injuries with special regards to growth disturbances after screw osteosynthesis and to assess rate of union with a view to formulate guidelines for screw removal. We review the outcomes of screw osteosynthesis for displaced lateral condyle fracture of the humerus (19 Milch type-1 and 15 Milch type-II) in 34 children treated in our institution from January 2000 to March 2004. The average age of the patients was 6.1 years. The average follow up was 24.5 months. Screw osteosynthesis led to union (average 6.9 weeks) in all patients with excellent results in 28 patients. Growth disturbances in the form of lateral condyle overgrowth (2 patients), valgus deformity secondary to lateral condyle avascular necrosis (2 patients) and fishtail deformity ((3 patients) were recognized. The implants should not be removed until fracture union is established. Screw osteosynthesis of the lateral humeral condyle fracture prevents secondary fracture redisplacement and lateral condyle overgrowth is probably related to hyperemic response to metaphyseal fixation and early removal of implant before radiological union.
The displaced supracondylar fracture of the humerus in children (Gartland type 3) is a most challenging injury to treat. There is controversy regarding the initial treatment either closed manipulation and splint immobilization or open reduction and internal fixation. This is a retrospective study comparing two groups of patients with displaced supracondylar fracture of the humerus (Gattland 3) treated in the Orthopaedic Unit, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. The first group, 13 patients treated with closed reduction and splint immobilization and a second group, 15 patients treated with open reduction and internal fixation as initial definitive treatment. The results showed a high failure rate of closed reduction and splint immobilization. This was due to difficulty in reduction, loss of reduction post operatively or during follow-up. Open reduction and internal fixation was more advantages with reduced hospitalization time, fewer complications, more stable fixation and better anatomical reduction with minimal complications for type 3 supracondylar fracture of humerus. We would recommend that all Gartland 3 supracondylar fracture of the humerus be treated with open reduction and two K-wire fixation.
Cubitus varus deformity following mal-union of a supracondylar fracture of the humerus in children causes no functional disability, but surgical correction is often requested to improve the appearance of the arm. Maintaining the correction after supracondylar osteotomy is a difficult aspect of the operative treatment and remains controversial. Nine children aged between 6 and 12 years (average 8 years and 11 months) underwent lateral closing wedge supracondylar osteotomy of the humerus, for deformity ranging between 10 and 20 degrees (average 13 degrees). The correction required ranged between 16 and 30 degrees (average 21 degrees). The osteotomy was internally fixed with a two hole marrow plate. At follow-up, which ranged between 3 months and 6 years (average 34 months), six patients were graded as good, two as satisfactory and one as a poor result. One patient had transient radial nerve palsy which recovered completely in 2 months. The patient who was graded poor had undercorrection of the deformity at the original operation. There was no incidence of loss of correction due to implant failure. Complete section of the bone to allow medial displacement of the distal fragment is recommended, thereby avoiding lateral bony prominence at the elbow.
A retrospective study was done on 56 patients treated with percutaneous pinning of displaced supracondylar fractures of the humerus in the Paediatrics Institute of Hospital Kuala Lumpur between November 1999 and October 2000, to ascertain whether there is any significance clinically in the stability of a crossed pinning medial compared with lateral pinning method. There was equal number of patients in each group (28 patients). The radiographs were evaluated for change in Baumann's angle and Lateral Humero-capitellar angle from immediate post-op until the last follow-up. The changes in the angles did not reveal any statistically significant difference in the ability to maintain reduction of the fractures. There were 3 instances of iatrogenic ulnar nerve injury in the crossed pinning group; the lateral pinning group had 1 case each of anterior interosseous nerve and radial nerve injury post operatively. No vascular injury was noted. Two cases of superficial pin tract infection were present in each group. The lateral percutaneous pinning technique of displaced supracondylar fractures of the humerus therefore offers a viable alternative to the crossed pinning group as it offers the same stability without the incipient risk of iatrogenic ulnar nerve injury.
We reviewed the results of screw osteosynthesis for the treatment of fracture lateral condylar physis in twenty children whose average age was six years old (range, two to ten years) at the time of operation from January 1998 till December 2000. The average interval between the injury and the operation was three and half days (range, one day to two weeks). The average duration of follow up was one year (range, one year to two years). Osteosynthesis was revised in two patients due to anterior placement of screw and rotated distal fracture fragment. Osseous union was achieved in all twenty patients. The result was rated excellent in nineteen patients and good in one patient.
Over a seven-year period, 170 cases of humerus fractures were plated in Hospital Melaka. Of these, 131 cases were successfully traced for this study. Besides looking at fracture epidemiology, its relationship with radial nerve injury was examined. The incidence of post-traumatic wrist drop in closed and compound fractures were 14.9% and 35.3% respectively. In relation to the site of fracture, lower third fracture had the highest incidence of wrist drop (29%). The recovery from post-traumatic wrist drop was 83%. The average duration taken for recovery was 11.8 weeks. The incidence of post-operative wrist drop was high at 17.6% but all recovered during follow-up.
To conduct a prospective randomised controlled study to compare the stability and risk of nerve injury between fractures treated by medial-lateral pin fixation and those treated by 2-lateral pin fixation.
A retrospective study of nerve injuries with displaced supracondylar fractures of the humerus in children younger than 12 years of age, treated in Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Our objectives were to determine the incidence of primary and iatrogenic nerve injuries in supracondylar humerus fractures Gartland types II and III and to determine the outcome of nerve recovery. A total of 272 patients with displaced supracondylar humerus fractures who required admission to Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia from January 2000 to December 2007 were reviewed. There were 182 boys (67%) and 90 girls (33%). The mean age was 6.0 years, ranging from 1 to 12 years. Of 272 supracondylar fractures, 79 were type II and 193 were type III. Fifty-one (19%) patients had closed reduction, 160 (59%) had closed reduction and percutaneous crossed Kirschner (K) wires, and 61 (22%) had open reduction and crossed K-wires. Associated nerve injuries involving the median, radial, and ulnar nerves were observed in 48 (18%) patients. Nerve injuries were observed in nine (3%) patients upon admission. Thirty-nine (14%) patients developed nerve injuries following treatment. Of these 39 patients, 34 had ulnar, three had radial, and two had median nerve injuries. Nerve exploration was performed in five patients (in four patients following debridement of open fracture and in one because of unacceptable postoperative radiographs, and they subsequently underwent open reduction and exploration). Except for these five patients, the K-wires were not removed earlier nor were the nerves surgically explored in others. The nerve injuries resolved clinically on an average time of 3.5 months (range from 3 weeks to 8 months). Our study found complete resolution of all patients with nerve injuries confirmed by clinical assessment. On the basis of our study, we believe that there is no indication to remove the K-wires immediately or to explore the nerve surgically following a mini-open technique, which reduces the risk of penetrating a nerve during pinning.