title: Correlation between iatrogenic ulnar nerve injury and angular insertion of the medial pin in supracondylar humerus fractures.
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the correlation between the occurrence of iatrogenic ulnar nerve injury and frontal and saggital angular insertion of the medial pin in type 3 pediatric supracondylar humerus fractures treated by closed reduction and percutaneous fixation using a cross-pin configuration. Radiographs of 90 children were retrospectively reviewed and two radiographic parameters were measured. The frontal humerus-pin angle was formed between the long axis of the humerus shaft and the axis of the medial pin on an anteroposterior radiograph. The saggital humerus-pin angle was formed between the long axis of the humerus shaft and the axis of the medial pin on a lateral radiograph and expressed as positive and negative values if the insertion direction of the pin was anterior to posterior or posterior to anterior, respectively. There was a significant difference between the mean saggital humerus-pin angle values of ulnar nerve injury and no neurological complication groups (12.1 degrees versus 1.6 degrees , respectively; P=0.001). It was concluded that, anteroposterior insertion of the medial pin in the saggital plane, while the elbow was in hyperflexion, correlated with the occurrence of iatrogenic ulnar nerve injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Osmangazi University, Eskişehir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Abdurrahman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ozçelik
authors.forename: Aybars
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tekcan
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Omeroğlu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001858:Bone Nails; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D006810:Humeral Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014459:Ulnar Nerve / Q000293:injuries*