Displaced supracondylar fractures of the humerus in children.

From 1972 to 1981, 60 children with severely displaced supracondylar fractures were treated with closed reduction and vertical osseous traction with a screw in the olecranon. None of the patients had complications (infection or neurovascular damage) due to the treatment, but eight patients had loss of reduction and required second reduction. The average hospitalization time was 2.6 weeks, and all fractures had united within four weeks. A follow-up study of 56 patients was performed an average of 78 months after the injury. All patients had an excellent (75%) or good (25%) end result. Vertical osseous traction is easy to apply and carries few risks of complications. The method is recommended, provided longer hospitalization time is acceptable or permissible.