Comparison of traditional and Dorgan's lateral cross-wiring of supracondylar humerus fractures in children.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the outcomes of traditional medial-lateral and Dorgan's lateral cross-wiring of supracondylar humerus fractures in children.

METHODS

In our retrospective study, we evaluated 51 children in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Harran University Medical Faculty, Sanliurfa, Turkey between February 2005 and January 2009. Group 1 (traditional) included 25 (16 male and 9 female, mean age 6.5 +/- 3.3 years) and group 2 (Dorgan's lateral) included 26 (19 male and 7 female, mean age 7.1 +/- 2.8 years) patients. Functional and cosmetic results were evaluated according to Flynn et al's criteria. Preoperative and postoperative neurologic examination was performed. The mean follow-up periods were 18.4 +/- 1.7 months in group 1 and 16.3 +/- 1.7 months in group 2.

RESULTS

The neurologic, functional, and cosmetic results of 51 patients were reviewed. There were no statistically significant differences found between the groups for gender, age, follow-up periods, fracture types, neurological or function, and cosmetic results. Although postoperative iatrogenic ulnar nerve injuries occurred in 2 (8%) patients treated with the traditional medial-lateral (group 1) cross-wiring technique, no nerve injury occurred in the Dorgan's lateral group (group 2).

CONCLUSION

We recommend Dorgan's lateral cross-wiring technique as it is as effective as the traditional medial-lateral cross-wiring technique, and prevents iatrogenic ulnar nerve injuries.