title: Functional outcome of supracondylar elbow fractures in children: a 3- to 5-year follow-up.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Long-term functional outcomes of supracondylar elbow fractures (SCEF) have not been well documented in the literature. We retrospectively evaluated functional outcomes of pediatric SCEF using the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed the outcomes of patients who presented to our tertiary care pediatric emergency department with SCEF between January 2005 and December 2009. We reviewed their charts to assess several clinical parameters, including age, sex, Gartland classification of SCEF, weight, comorbidities, treatment intervention, physiotherapy and the extremity involved. The DASH questionnaire was administered in 2012. We performed a multiple linear regression analysis to determine the significance of these clinical parameters as they related to the DASH score for functional outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We included 94 patients with SCEF in our review. Pediatric SCEF had good functional outcomes based on the DASH questionnaire (mean score 0.77 ± 2.10). We obtained the following DASH scores: 0.45 ± 2.20 for type I, 1.09 ± 1.70 for type II and 1.43 ± 2.40 for type III fractures. There was no statistical difference in functional outcome, regardless of sex (p = 0.07), age at injury (p = 0.96), fracture type (p = 0.14), weight (p = 0.59), right/left extremity (p = 0.26) or surgery (p = 0.52).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results demonstrate that good functional outcomes can be expected with pediatric SCEF based on the DASH questionnaire, regardless of age at injury, sex, weight, right/left extremity or surgical/nonsurgical intervention, provided satisfactory reduction is achieved and maintained.
authors: From the Discipline of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Nfld.
authors: Ahaoiza Diana
authors: AD
authors: Isa
authors: From the Discipline of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Nfld.
authors: Andrew
authors: A
authors: Furey
authors: From the Discipline of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Nfld.
authors: Craig
authors: C
authors: Stone
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004550:Elbow / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005592:Fracture Fixation; D006801:Humans; D006810:Humeral Fractures / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D007223:Infant; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008349:Manipulation, Orthopedic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000092464:Elbow Injuries