Comparison of posterior and lateral surgical approach in management of type III supracondylar fractures of the humerus among the children.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the results between posterior and lateral approaches in surgical treatment of the type III supracondylar humeral fractures in children.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective analytical study.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

Two groups of patients who needed surgical treatment of type III supracondylar humeral fractures, 52 in posterior approaches and 30 in lateral approaches were followed up for 6 months, in Chaiyaphum Hospital between 2004 and 2007.

RESULTS

The posterior approach had a shorter operative time than the lateral approach (p < 0.001). The overall scores by Flynn's criteria showed that good and excellent outcomes were 80.7% in the posterior approach group and 80% in the lateral approach group and there was no significant difference of complications.

CONCLUSION

The posterior approach had a shorter operative time than the lateral approach but no significant differences were found in terms of results and complications.