title: [Closed reduction and percutaneous Kirschner pin fixation combined with plaster support for the treatment of supracondylar humerus fractures in children].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the therapeutic effects of closed reduction and percutaneous Kirschner pin fixation combined with plaster support for the treatment of supracondylar humerus fractures in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  From June 2007 to December 2008, 27 patients with Gartland III supracondylar fractures were treated with closed reduction and percutaneous Kirschner wire fixation combined with plaster support. Among the patients, 18 patients were male and 9 patients were female, ranging in age from 6 to 12 years,with an average of 8.1 years. Fifteen patients were extension type, 12 patients were buckling type; fourteen patients were ulnar deviation, 13 patients were radial deviation. The duration from injury to treatment ranged from 0.5 to 8 days, averaged 3.6 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-seven patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 6 to 24 months, averaged 13.5 months. The healing time ranged from 4 to 6 weeks after surgery, with a mean of 4.5 weeks. Complications including implants loosening, fracture re-displacement, Volkmarm contraction, needle point or deep infection, ulnar nerve injury, myositis ossificans were found during follow-up. Two patients had postoperative elbow varus, but the varus angle was not more than 15 degree,which may be due to inappropriate functional exercise or early removal of external fixation. According to Flynn criteria, 19 patients got an excellent result, 5 good, 2 poor and 1 bad.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Closed reduction and percutaneous Kirschner wire fixation combined plaster support for the treatment of unstable supracondylar fractures in children has advantages including little trauma, reliable fixation, good elbow function and appearance.
authors: Department of Orthopaedics, Changhai Hospital Affiliated to the Second Medical University of PLA, Shanghai, 200433, China.
authors: Zhen
authors: Z
authors: Yao
authors: Zhi-Jin
authors: ZJ
authors: Lin
authors: Lie-Hu
authors: LH
authors: Cao
authors: Chun-Cai
authors: CC
authors: Zhang
authors: Pan-Feng
authors: PF
authors: Wang
authors: Xin-Wei
authors: XW
authors: Liu
authors: Jia-Can
authors: JC
authors: Su