Supracondylar fracture of the humerus in children.
Seventy-eight supracondylar fractures of the humerus in children were reviewed to compare four kinds of treatment: closed reduction and immobilization in a cast or splint, overhead skeletal traction, side-arm skeletal traction, and Dunlop's skin traction. The skeletal traction device usually used was a winged screw of our own design. The arms treated in overhead traction had significantly less change in carrying angle than those treated in side-arm traction. Significant changes in carrying angle were encountered in three instances of medially impacted so-called non-displaced fractures. There were two instances of significant carrying-angle change due to overgrowth of the lateral aspect of the distal part of the humerus. Overhead traction, utilizing a winged traction screw, was the most effective method of treatment that we found. There were no instances of Volkmann's ischemic contracture.
D002370:Casts, Surgical; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000379:methods*; D005596:Fractures, Closed / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D006810:Humeral Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D013165:Splints; D014143:Traction / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods