Functional results of displaced lateral condyle fractures of the humerus with four-week K-wire fixation in children

Cbj ectives : We evaluated the radiographic and clinical functional results of four-week K-wire fixation in the treat¬ment of displaced lateral condyle fractures of the humerus. Methods: The study included 69 children (19 girls, 50 boys; mean age 6.1 years; range 2 to 12 years) with dis¬placed (>2 mm) lateral condyle fractures of the humerus. All the patients were treated by open reduction and inter¬nal fixation with two K-wires for four weeks. The frac¬tures were classified according to the criteria by Milch and Badelon and functional results were evaluated according to the criteria by Hardacre et al. The mean fol¬low-up period was 39 months (range 26 to 89 months). Results: No complications were seen in the early follow- up period. On final evaluations, the carrying angles of both elbows were equal in 57 patients (82.6%), with a mean difference of 5 degrees in 11 patients (15.9%). The range of motion of the humeroulnar joint on the affected side differed from that on the contralateral side in only 15 patients (21.7%) with a mean of 5 degrees. Radiographic evaluations showed overgrowth of the lateral condyle and new bone formation over the condyle in 33 patients (47.8%). Functional results were excellent in 54 patients (78.3%) and good in 15 patients (21.7%). Nonunion did not occur. Conclusion: Treatment of displaced lateral condyle frac¬tures of the humerus with open reduction and f o u r-week K- wire fixation proved to be efficient to achieve satisfactory functional results.