Supracondylar fracture of the humerus in children.

Seventy-eight supracondylar fractures of the humerus in children were reviewed to compare four kinds of treatment: closed reduction and immobilization in a cast or splint, overhead skeletal traction, side-arm skeletal traction, and Dunlop's skin traction. The skeletal traction device usually used was a winged screw of our own design. The arms treated in overhead traction had significantly less change in carrying angle than those treated in side-arm traction. Significant changes in carrying angle were encountered in three instances of medially impacted so-called non-displaced fractures. There were two instances of significant carrying-angle change due to overgrowth of the lateral aspect of the distal part of the humerus. Overhead traction, utilizing a winged traction screw, was the most effective method of treatment that we found. There were no instances of Volkmann's ischemic contracture.