Supracondylar fracture of the humerus in children: review of closed and open reduction leading to a proposal for treatment.

Of 70 supracondylar fractures of the humerus in children, 25 were treated by open reduction and internal fixation, 24 by closed manipulation and plaster and 21 by plaster-of-Paris only. Three of the fractures were operated on because of suspected vascular injury (with or without neurological symptoms), another seven because of instability and/or extreme swelling and 15 after unsatisfactory closed reduction. Traction was used in 3 of the 24 patients treated by closed methods and among the other 21, three fractures had to be manipulated twice. Three to six years after the injury, 6 of the 25 patients operated on had reduced flexion-extension and/or deformity exceeding 10 degrees. Five patients treated by closed reduction had reduced movements or deformity exceeding 10 degrees and three patients with originally undisplaced fractures had deformity exceeding 10 degrees. In this study the most severe fractures were selected for operation but, in spite of this, the results were better than for fractures treated by closed reduction and plaster. Based on this and previous studies, a plan suitable for most departments is suggested for the treatment of this fracture.