title: Paediatric lateral humeral condylar fracture outcomes at twelve years follow-up as compared with age and sex matched paired controls.
abstract: Lateral humeral condylar fractures are the second most common elbow fractures in children. We present the long-term clinical and radiographic results.
  
  
  
  All children (<16 years) in the geographic catchment area with lateral condylar fracture were asked to participate and 32 (76.2%) patients enrolled. Clinical and functional results are compared with randomly selected but age and sex matched normal controls at 12.4 years (range 10.6 to 16.0).
  
  
  
  Unsatisfactory clinical outcomes were found in 40.6% of the fracture cases vs. 6.3% controls (P = 0.003), according to Flynn's criteria. Flexion-extension range of motion was decreased >5° in 13 cases (40.6%) and in four controls (12.5%, P = 0.013). One in four (N = 8, 25%) of the cases showed cubitus varus >5° and 15.7% (N = 5) had cubitus valgus >5°, compared to one cubitus valgus (3.1%) in controls (P = 0.002).
  
  
  
  The majority of the adolescent and young adult patients (59.4%) with a previous paediatric lateral humeral condylar fracture had recovered well and showed good or excellent overall outcomes according to Flynn's criteria for elbow assessment after a mean of 12.4 years post-injury. Long-term sequelae was unchanged regardless of treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Children and Adolescents, Pediatric Surgery and Orthopedics, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu University, Medical Research Center Oulu, PEDEGO Research Group, P.o. BOX 23, FIN-90029 OYS, Oulu, Finland. juha-jaakko.sinikumpu@ppshp.fi.
authors.forename: Juha-Jaakko
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Sinikumpu
authors.affiliation: Department of Children and Adolescents, Pediatric Surgery and Orthopedics, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu University, Medical Research Center Oulu, PEDEGO Research Group, P.o. BOX 23, FIN-90029 OYS, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Tytti
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pokka
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Vaasa Central Hospital, Vaasa, Finland.
authors.forename: Sarita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Victorzon
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Eija-Leena
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Lindholm
authors.affiliation: Department of Children and Adolescents, Pediatric Surgery and Orthopedics, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu University, Medical Research Center Oulu, PEDEGO Research Group, P.o. BOX 23, FIN-90029 OYS, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Willy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Serlo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D006810:Humeral Fractures / Q000628:therapy*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000092464:Elbow Injuries
keywords: Children; Humeral fracture; Lateral condyle; Long-term outcome