To Compare the Outcome of Patients with Supracondylar Fractures of Humerus Treated by Cross K-Wires and Lateral Entry K-Wires in Children

Objective: To compare outcome of patients with supracondylar fractures of humerus treated by cross K-wires and lateral entry K-wires in children. Patients and methods: It is a randomized controlled trial study, conducted at Department of Orthopedic surgery, Shaikh Zayed Hospital/PGMI Lahore, during period of 8 months (June 2011 to Feb. 2012). Total 200 cases were included in the study (divided in two groups A & B). In group A cross k wire fixation and in group B lateral entry k wire fixation performed. Loss of reduction assessed and recorded in the immediate postoperative period and three weeks later at the time of removal of k wires. Range of motion of elbow, in the form of excellent outcome assessed at the end of 12 weeks postoperatively. Results: Total 200 patients were included in study. Eighty patients (80%) were males and twenty patients (20%) were females in cross k wire fixation, while seventy eight (78%) male and twenty two (22%) were female in lateral entry k wire group. The age ranged from 3 to 10 years. Loss of reduction was found in thirty patients (30%) in group A and in forty one patients (41%) in group B. In group A, seventy two patients (72%) had excellent outcome while twenty eight patients (28%) did not gain the desired range of motion at elbow. In group B, sixty five patients (65%) had excellent outcome while in thirty five patients (35%) the desired range of motion at elbow was not achieved. Conclusion: Lateral entry k wire fixation is as effective as cross k wire in the treatment of displaced supracondylar fracture of humerus in children keeping and applying the technical aspect of fracture reduction. Excellent outcome in the form of range of motion can be obtained even if the fracture has lost the reduction.