Objective Supracondylar closing wedge osteotomy is a standard operation for the management of post-traumatic cubitus varus deformity. There are many fixation methods for the broken ends of bone. However, most of these fixation methods are fraught with various complications. To evaluate the methods and functional results of double volume internal fixation for correction of adult post-traumatic cubitus varus deformity. Methods The cl inical data were retrospectively reviewed, from 22 cases of adults post-traumatic cubitus varus deformity between June 2007 and December 2010.There were 16 males and 6 females, aged 18-29 years (mean, 21 years) and they all had a history of supracondylar fracture. The deformities of cubitus varus appeared at 6 months (range, 3 months to 1 year) after fracture, and the operations were carried out at 4-17 years (mean, 8 years) after deformity occurrence. The valgus angle were 16-25° (mean, 20.6°) and the Flynn functional scores were all poor before operation. Supracondylar closing wedge osteotomies were performed. Two reconstruction plates were moulded and placed to the media and lateral volumes of the humerus to fix the broken ends of the osteotomy surfaces. External fixation was not needed and early rehabil itation was performed postoperatively in all cases. Results Incisions healed by first intention. All cases were followed up 6 to 24 months (mean, 13 months). At last follow-up, the valgus angle was 0-10° (mean, 7.5°). All cases got bone union at 8-13 weeks (mean, 10 weeks) after operation. No related complications occurred, such as infection, nervous or vein injury, and loosening or breakage of internal fixator; and no cubitus varus recurred. The Flynn scores were excellent in 17 cases, good in 3 cases, and fair in 2 cases; the excellent and good rate was 91%. Conclusion The operation of supracondylar osteotomy with double plates internal fixation for the correction of adult post-traumatic cubitus varus deformity can rigidly stabil ize distal humerus, which is helpful to functional training just after operation and satisfactory restoration of the elbow function.
Objective To investigate the causes and the measures for prevention and management of compl ications of supracondylar fracture of the humerus. Methods In 203 cases of supracondylar fracture of the humerus treated from July2002 to July 2008, 49 cases had compl ication, whose data were retrospectively analyzed. There were 32 males and 17 females with an average age of 9 years(range 2-14 years). Fracture was caused by tumble in 38 cases, by fall ing from height in 4 cases, and by traffic accident in 7 cases. All cases were closed fractures. According to Gartland typing for supracondylar fracture of the humerus, there were 10 cases of type II and 39 cases of type III. Compl ications included 21 cases of vascular injuries, 10 cases of neural injuries, and 3 cases of osteofascial compartment syndrome. The time from injury to operation was 1-25 days. Closed reduction was given in 13 cases, closed reduction plus percutaneous K-wire fixation in 21 cases, and open reduction plus K-wire fixation in 15 cases. After reduction, plaster external fixation was performed. The cases of manipulation which blood circulation could not improve underwent incision to exploration of blood vessel. Two cases of neural injuries were treated with incision decompression of epineurium. Three cases of osteofascial compartment syndrome were treated with incision decompression, and the incision was sutured after 7-10 days. Results All incisions healed by first intention. The duration of follow-up was 1-5 years with an average of 3.4 years. Fracture heal ing was achieved within 4-8 weeks. All vascular injuries and 9 cases of neural injures recovered thoroughly. Poor function occurred in 1 case of median nerve injury and Volkmann ischemic contracture in 1 case of osteofascial compartment syndrome. Cubitus varus deformity was found in 11 cases and myositis ossificans in 4 cases within 3 months to 1 year. According to Flynn standard of the function of elbow, the results were excellent in 21 cases, good in 7cases, fair in 3 cases, poor in 18 cases. Conclusion Early reduction is the key for prevention of further vascular injury, nerve injury and osteofascial compartment syndrome. Operation is essential when expectant treatment inval id. Satisfactory reduction, good fixation and functional rehabil itation are key points for preventing cubitus varus deformity.
ObjectiveTo analyze the treatment of Gartland type Ⅱ and Ⅲ supracondylar fracture of the humerus in children.MethodsBetween January 2015 and January 2017, 45 cases of Gartland type Ⅱ and Ⅲ supracondylar fracture of the humerus were treated. There were 28 boys and 17 girls with an age of 1-13 years (mean, 5.7 years). The causes of injury included sports injury in 43 cases and falling from height in 2 cases. Fractures were classified as type Ⅱ in 12 cases and type Ⅲ in 33 cases according to Gartland classification. The time from injury to operation was 2-12 hours (mean, 4.6 hours). All fractures were treated with closed reduction first, and 12 cases of Gartland type Ⅱ fracture were successful in closed reduction; 20 cases of Gartland type Ⅲ fracture were successful in closed reduction, 11 cases with reduction failure and 2 cases with radial nerve injury underwent assisted anterior transverse approach reduction. Then percutaneous crossed Kirschner wires fixation was performed.ResultsThe operation time was 16-52 minutes (mean, 32 minutes). The perspective frequency was 4-17 times (mean, 6.7 times). The hospitalization time was 3-7 days (mean, 4 days). All the 45 cases were followed up 8-20 months (mean, 12 months). The ulnar nerve paralysis occurred in 3 cases of Gartland type Ⅲ fracture that were treated with closed reduction, and recovered after 1-3 months. All fractures healed after operation, and the healing time was 2-3 months. No incision infection, Volkmann muscle contracture, and other complications occurred. The elbow joint function score at 6 months after operation showed that the results of closed reduction was excellent in 16 cases, good in 12 cases, and fair in 4 cases, with the excellent and good rate of 87.5%; in which Gartland type Ⅱ fracture was excellent in 9 cases and good in 3 cases, with an excellent and good rate of 100%, and Gartland Ⅲ was excellent in 7 cases, good in 9 cases, and fair in 4 cases with an excellent and good rate of 80%. The results of assisted anterior transverse approach reduction was excellent in 7 cases, good in 5 cases, and fair in 1 case, and the excellent and good rate was 92.3%.ConclusionGartland type Ⅱ and Ⅲ supracondylar fractures of the humerus can be treated with closed reduction or combined with the assisted anterior transverse approach reduction, then fixed by percutaneous crossed Kirschner wire, which is operational, smaller invasive, and less radiation exposure during operation, while postoperative function is good.
ObjectiveTo investigate effectiveness of picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) in lateral wedge osteotomy for cubitus varus deformity in teenagers.MethodsA clinical data of 16 teenagers with cubitus varus deformity between July 2014 and July 2016 was retrospectively analyzed. All patients were treated with lateral wedge osteotomy and fixed with plate. Before operation, the osteotomy design (the osteotomy angle and length) was done in the PACS, including the carrying angle of healthy limb and the varus angle of affected side. There were 10 males and 6 females, with an average age of 11.4 years (range, 10-17 years). The disease duration ranged from 2 to 10 years (mean, 5.6 years). The preoperative X-ray film showed that the supracondylar fractures of the humerus had all healed, and 9 cases had internal rotation deformity; the varus angle of the affected side was 19.5°-33.5°. After operation, the fracture healing and cubitus varus deformity correction were observed by X-ray films, the elbow function was evaluated by Mayo scoring, and the elbow range of motion was detected.ResultsThere was no significant difference between the actual intraoperative osteotomy angle and length and the preoperative design (P>0.05). The hospital stay was 2-8 days, with an average of 4.5 days. No complication such as incision infection or ulnar nerve injury occurred. All 16 cases were followed up 12-18 months, with an average of 14 months. X-ray films showed that the osteotomy healed at 2-7 months after operation, with an average of 2.5 months. The internal fixators were removed within 8-14 months after operation (mean, 12.0 months). X-ray films measurement showed that the carrying angle of the affected side recovered to (10.3±2.0)° at 1 day after operation, which was not significantly different from that of the healthy side [(10.6±1.5)°] before operation (t=0.480, P=0.637). The carrying angle of the affected side was (9.8±2.6)° at 1 year after operation, which was not significantly different from that of the healthy side [(10.4±1.6)°] at the same time point (t=0.789, P=0.438). At 1 year after operation, the ranges of flexion and extension of affected side were (131.6±8.4)° and (6.4±2.6)°, respectively; and the ranges of flexion and extension of healthy side were (134.2±6.3)° and (5.9±2.2)°, respectively. There was no significant difference between the healthy and affected sides (t=1.143, P=0.262; t=0.587, P=0.561). The elbow joint function at 1 year after operation evaluated by Mayo scoring standard rated as excellent in 9 cases, good in 6 cases, and fair in 1 case, and the excellent and good rate was 93.7%.ConclusionBefore lateral wedge osteotomy, the PACS is used to design the osteotomy angle and length, which can guide the operation and make the osteotomy more accurate and simple.