Aims. We present the clinical and radiographic outcome of 81 children
with Gartland type I to III supracondylar humeral fractures at a
minimum follow-up of ten years (mean 12.1 years; 10.3 to 16.1) following
injury. Patients and Methods. The clinical and functional outcomes are compared with normal
age- and gender-matched individuals. The population-based study
setting was first identified from the institutional registries;
the rate of participation was 76%. Controls were randomly selected
from Finnish National Population Registry. Results. According to Flynn's criteria, most fractures (75.3%) resulted
in a satisfactory (“good or excellent”) outcome. Satisfactory recovery
was achieved in 75.0% of type I fractures treated by closed splinting
(p = 0.013). Type II fractures were associated with both satisfactory
(57.7%) and unsatisfactory (42.3%) results, regardless of the type
of treatment, although the numbers were small in the sub groups.
Most type III fractures were treated operatively, and most (76%)
had a satisfactory outcome according to Flynn’s criteria (p = 0.015). Compared with none among the normal subjects, flexion of the
elbow was reduced by >
10° at long-term follow-up in 20 cases (24.7%,
p <
0.001) and 9 (11.1%) had a reduced flexion of >
15° (p =
0.004). In patients who had sustained a type III fracture, the carrying
angle was decreased by 35.7% (from 9.8° to 6.3°; p = 0.048). All
patients achieved an excellent Mayo Elbow Performance Score (mean
96.4 points). Conclusion. The long-term outcome of extension-type supracondylar humeral
fractures is generally good, but not exclusively benign, with the
potential for long-term pain and ulnar nerve sensitivity, and a
decrease in
We report our experience of the use of callus distraction with a monolateral fixator for the treatment of acquired radial club-hand deformity after osteomyelitis. Between 1994 and 2004, 13 patients with a mean age of eight years (4 to 15) were treated by callus distraction with a monolateral fixator after a preliminary period of at least four weeks in a corrective short-arm cast. All patients achieved bony union and were satisfied with the functional and cosmetic outcome. There were no major complications, but three patients required cancellous bone grafting at the docking site for delayed union. Local treatment and oral antibiotics were required for pin-site infection in six patients. There were no deep infection or recurrence of osteomyelitis.