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Abstract
Eighty cases of supracondylar fracture of the humerus at the elbow in children have
been analysed. The post-reduction radiograph of the fracture was classified depending
on the residual deformity present and related to the loss of carrying angle and cubitus
varus deformity at the time of follow-up. Fifty-four per cent of the displaced fractures
showed a loss of carrying angle greater than 5 °, and of these, 23 per cent developed
cubitus varus deformity. Eighty-five per cent of those cases with a loss of carrying
angle greater than 10 ° showed either residual tilt or medial rotation on the post-reduction
radiograph. All cases in which there was residual medial tilt after manipulation and
40 per cent of those with medial rotation on the post-reduction radiograph developed
cubitus varus.
In our series, there was no evidence of epiphyseal injury causing the deformity and
in none of the cases was the deformity progressive. It is suggested that, in order
to reduce the incidence of varus deformity in supracondylar fractures, open reduction
and internal fixation is indicated in those fractures in which tilt or medial rotation
cannot be reduced by conservative means.
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References
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Article info
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© 1979 Published by Elsevier Inc.
