Aims. We aimed to evaluate the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children with supracondylar humeral fractures (SCHFs), who were treated following the recommendations of the Paediatric Comprehensive AO Classification, and to assess if HRQoL was associated with AO fracture classification, or fixation with a lateral external fixator compared with closed reduction and percutaneous pinning (CRPP). Methods. We were able to follow-up on 775 patients (395 girls, 380 boys) who sustained a SCHF from 2004 to 2017. Patients completed questionnaires including the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire (QuickDASH; primary outcome), and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL). Results. An AO type I SCHF was most frequent (327 children; type II: 143; type III: 150; type IV: 155 children). All children with type I fractures were treated nonoperatively. Two children with a type II fracture, 136 with a type III fracture, and 141 children with a type IV fracture underwent CRPP. In the remaining 27 children with type III or IV fractures, a lateral external fixator was necessary for closed reduction. There were no open reductions. After a mean follow-up of 6.3 years (SD 3.7), patients with a type I fracture had a mean QuickDASH of 2.0 (SD 5.2), at a scale of 0 to 100, with lower values representing better HRQoL (type II: 2.8 (SD 10.7); type III: 3.3 (SD 8.0); type IV: 1.8 (SD 4.6)). The mean function score of the PedsQL ranged from 97.4 (SD 8.0) for type I to 96.1 (SD 9.1) for type III fractures, at a scale of 0 to 100, with higher values representing better HRQoL. Conclusion. In this cohort of 775 patients in whom nonoperative treatment was chosen for AO type I and II fractures and CRPP or a lateral external fixator was used in AO type III and IV fractures, there was equally excellent mid- and long-term HRQoL when assessed by the QuickDASH and PedsQL. These results indicate that the treatment protocol followed in this study is unambiguous, avoids open reductions, and is associated with excellent treatment outcomes. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2020;102-B(6):755–765

This study aimed to evaluate the use of pin leverage in the reduction of Gartland type III supracondylar fractures of the humerus in children. The study comprised 95 children, who were split into three groups according to the type of method of reduction used. Group 1, had an open reduction, group 2, had closed reduction and percutaneous pin fixation and group 3, the pin leverage technique. Each group was analysed according to the time to surgery, the duration of the procedure, the incidence of complications, and the clinical and radiological outcome. The mean duration of the operative procedure in groups 1, 2 and 3 was 119 minutes (80 to 235), 57 minutes (20 to 110) and 68 minutes (30 to 90), respectively. At a mean follow-up of 30 months (12 to 63) the clinical results were declared excellent or good in all children and the radiological results intermediate in five patients in group 2. The results of the closed reduction using the pin leverage technique was classified as failure in two children. Our findings lead us to believe that the pin leverage method of reduction gives good results in the treatment of Gartland type III fractures

The management of an anterior supracondylar fracture by closed reduction, traction, percutaneous pinning or open reduction is seldom satisfactory, especially for adults and the aged with a lesser ability to remodel and a slower functional recovery. A new, safe, and simple technique is described in which the condylar mass is pushed posteriorly along the axis of the forearm and the hand is rotated to full supination while the elbow is held in flexion to correct deformities. Fixation is divided into two parts: the circular cast around the upper arm provides a firm buttress onto which the lower fragment is reduced and then the arm is immobilised in a plaster which includes the wrist. Four cases of delayed, comminuted, compound fractures have been fully evaluated clinically and radiologically and the results assessed as good or excellent

The April 2023 Children’s orthopaedics Roundup³⁶⁰ looks at: Can you treat type IIA supracondylar humerus fractures conservatively?; Bone bruising and anterior cruciate ligament injury in paediatrics; Participation and motor abilities after treatment with the Ponseti method; Does fellowship training help with paediatric supracondylar fractures?; Supracondylar elbow fracture management (Supra Man): a national trainee collaborative evaluation of practice; Magnetically controlled growing rods in early-onset scoliosis; Weightbearing restrictions and weight gain in children with Perthes’ disease?; Injuries and child abuse increase during the pandemic over 12,942 emergency admissions.

Aims

The ‘pink, pulseless hand’ is often used to describe the clinical situation in which a child with a supracondylar fracture of the humerus has normal distal perfusion in the absence of a palpable peripheral pulse. The management guidelines are based on the assessment of perfusion, which is difficult to undertake and poorly evaluated objectively. The aim of this study was to review the available literature in order to explore the techniques available for the preoperative clinical assessment of perfusion in these patients and to evaluate the clinical implications.

The August 2024 Children’s orthopaedics Roundup³⁶⁰ looks at: Antibiotic prophylaxis and infection rates in paediatric supracondylar humerus fractures; Clinical consensus recommendations for the non-surgical treatment of children with Perthes’ disease in the UK; Health-related quality of life in idiopathic toe walkers: a multicentre prospective cross-sectional study; Children with spinal dysraphism: a systematic review of reported outcomes; No delay in age of crawling, standing, or walking with Pavlik harness treatment: a prospective cohort study; No value found with routine early postoperative radiographs after implant removal in paediatric patients; What do we know about the natural history of spastic hip dysplasia and pain in total-involvement cerebral palsy?; Evaluating the efficacy and safety of preoperative gallows traction for hip open reduction in infants

The April 2024 Children’s orthopaedics Roundup³⁶⁰ looks at: Ultrasonography or radiography for suspected paediatric distal forearm fractures?; Implant density in scoliosis: an important variable?; Gait after paediatric femoral shaft fracture treated with intramedullary nail fixation: a longitudinal prospective study; The opioid dilemma: navigating pain management for children’s bone fractures; 12- to 20-year follow-up of Dega acetabuloplasty in patients with developmental dysplasia of the hip; Physeal fractures of the distal ulna: incidence and risk factors for premature growth arrest; Analysis of growth after transphyseal anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in children; Management of lateral condyle humeral fracture associated with elbow dislocation in children: a retrospective international multicentre cohort study.

Aims

Heterotopic ossification (HO) is a potentially devastating complication of the surgical treatment of a proximal humeral fracture. The literature on the rate and risk factors for the development of HO under these circumstances is lacking. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and risk factors for the development of HO in these patients.

We performed a prospective, randomised study on 57 patients older than 60 years of age with unstable, extra-articular fractures of the distal radius to compare the outcome of immobilisation in a cast alone with that using supplementary, percutaneous pinning.

Patients treated by percutaneous wires had a statistically significant improvement in dorsal angulation (mean 7°), radial length (mean 3 mm) and radial inclination (mean 3 mm) at one year. However, there was no significant difference in functional outcome in terms of pain, range of movement, grip strength, activities of daily living and the SF-36 score except for an improved range of movement in ulnar deviation in the percutaneous wire group. One patient developed a pin-track infection which required removal of the wires at two weeks.

We conclude that percutaneous pinning of unstable, extra-articular fractures of the distal radius provides only a marginal improvement in the radiological parameters compared with immobilisation in a cast alone. This does not correlate with an improved functional outcome in a low-demand, elderly population.

Aims

We set out to determine if there is a difference in perioperative outcomes between early and delayed surgery in paediatric supracondylar humeral fractures in the absence of vascular compromise through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The December 2012 Children’s orthopaedics Roundup³⁶⁰ looks at: whether arthrodistraction is the answer to Perthes’ disease; deformity correction in tarsal coalitions; ultrasound used to predict pain in Osgood-Schlatter’s disease; acetabular tilt; hip replacement for juvenile arthritis sufferers; whether post-operative radiographs are needed for supracondylar fractures; intra-articular local anaesthetic following supracondylar fracture fixation; and limb deformity.

The April 2015 Children’s orthopaedics Roundup³⁶⁰ looks at: Reducing the incidence of DDH – is ‘back carrying’ the answer?; Surgical approach and AVN may not be linked in DDH; First year routine radiographic follow up for scoliosis not necessary; Diagnosis of osteochondritis dessicans; Telemedicine in paediatrics; Regional anesthesia in supracondylar fractures?