Neurological complications in children with supracondylar fractures of the humerus.
OBJECTIVE
To study the incidence of primary and secondary nerve injury in supracondylar fractures of the humerus, and to find out which factors may be responsible for iatrogenic nerve injuries.


METHODS
Retrospective study.


METHODS
University Hospital, The Netherlands.


METHODS
32 children admitted with type II or type III supracondylar fracture of the humerus.


METHODS
Incidence of primary and secondary nerve injury and their relation to type of fracture and treatment.


RESULTS
3 patients developed primary nerve injuries (9%). 4 further children developed nerve injury during treatment. All these children had several closed reductions attempted before definitive treatment was given (either pinning with a Kirschner wire or overhead traction).


CONCLUSIONS
Several attempts at closed reduction may cause iatrogenic nerve injury in unstable supracondylar fractures of the humerus.
The
R M
RM
Department of General Surgery, University Hospital Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Severijnen
R S
RS
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D006810:Humeral Fractures / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease / Q000517:prevention & control; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020196:Trauma, Nervous System; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology