DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2014.v02i03.002

Pages: 899-902

Supracondylar fracture of the humerus is a common fracture in children. It accounts for 60% of fractures around the paediatric elbow. There is a lot of controversy regarding the optimum pin configuration in the treatment of displaced supracondylar fractures in children. Lateral pinning has fewer complications with regards to ulnar nerve injury but is said to be biomechanically less stable than crossed pinning. This study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of percutaneous lateral only pinning in the treatment of displaced supracondylar fracture of humerus in children. This was a prospective study conducted in Mc Gann Teaching Hospital, SIMS Shivamogga between October 2010 to September 2013. 40 children with Gartland type 2 and 3 supracondylar fractures of the humerus were treated with percutaneous pinning by 2 or 3 lateral only pins and followed clinically and radiologically and evaluated by Flynn's criteria. Percutaneous pinning was successful in 37 children (92.5%). According to Flynn's criteria results were excellent in 25 children, good in 10 children and fair in 2 children. No major complications were encountered. We concluded that percutaneous lateral only pinning is a safe and effective method of treating supracondylar humeral fractures in children.