Comparison of outcome of closed reduction and percutaneous pinning and, open reduction and internal fixation with k-wire in Gartland extension type III supracondylar fracture of distal humerus in pediatric population

Abstract

Background: Supracondylar fracture of the distal humerus is one of the commonest fracture in pediatric age group. Though there is consensus of treating type III fracture operatively, no study has compared the outcome between Closed Reduction and Percutaneous Pinning (CRPP) and Open Reduction and Internal Fixation (ORIF) with k-wire in our setup.

Materials and Methods: Retrospective comparison study was done on eighty seven cases of Type III supracondylar fracture of distal humerus underwent operative procedure. Fifty four (54) cases underwent CRPP and 33 cases were managed with ORIF with k-wire, and they were followed up till 6 months post-operatively.

Results : The mean time for radiological union in patient who underwent CRPP was 4.37±0.94 weeks and that for the patient who underwent ORIF was 4.45±0.13 weeks, the difference of which was statistically insignificant (p-value >0.05). 83.3% of CRPP group and 78.8% in ORIF group had excellent functional outcome and only 3% in ORIF group had poor functional outcome.

Conclusion: Though both the group don’t have significant advantage of functional outcome among each other CRPP with limited attempt should be preferred to ORIF with k-wire for the advantage of avoiding surgical scar and reducing surgery time and exposure to anaesthetic agents.