Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 24, 2026
Treatment with Locking Intramedullary Nailing for Intertrochanteric Fracture of the Femur Utilizing a New Awl with a Distal Positioner
Published on: June 6, 2025
Delayed surgical treatment of supracondylar humerus fractures in children using a medial approach
Abdullah Eren1, Melih Güven, Bülent Erol
12nd Orthopaedic and Traumatology Clinic, Göztepe Training and Research Hospital, Göztepe, Istanbul, Turkey.
Insights
Delayed treatment of pediatric supracondylar humerus fractures did not worsen outcomes. Medial approach and cross-pinning is an effective treatment for these injuries, achieving good functional recovery with low complication rates.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Pediatric Orthopedics
- Traumatology
Background:
- Supracondylar humerus fractures are common in children.
- Management is often delayed due to swelling or facility issues.
- Optimal treatment for delayed fractures remains debated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of delayed treatment on outcomes for displaced supracondylar humerus fractures in children.
- To evaluate the complication rate associated with delayed management.
- To determine the effectiveness of a specific surgical approach for these fractures.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study of 31 children with delayed displaced supracondylar humerus fractures.
- Fractures classified using Gartland criteria (Type III-A/B).
- All patients underwent manual reduction via medial approach with percutaneous cross-pinning and post-operative splinting.
Main Results:
- Full functional recovery achieved in 93.5% of patients within 3 months.
- Pre-operative nerve injuries resolved spontaneously in all cases.
- Low complication rate: 22.5% cubitus varus deformity, 6.5% pin-tract infections; no neurological deficits or myositis ossificans.
Conclusions:
- Delayed presentation of pediatric supracondylar humerus fractures does not negatively impact treatment results or complication rates.
- Medial approach with cross-pinning is an effective and reliable surgical technique for these injuries.
- Prompt surgical intervention, even after delay, leads to favorable outcomes.
Purpose:
The appropriate management of supracondylar humerus fractures in children is frequently delayed due to various factors, and there is still no agreement on the treatment of choice. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of delayed treatment of displaced supracondylar humerus fractures on the treatment results and complication rate.
Methods:
A total of 31 children with supracondylar humerus fractures who had not received adequate treatment for their displaced fractures were included in this study. The conditions leading to delayed treatment mainly included severe swelling or skin problems around the elbow and the health facility problems unique to our district. The mean delaying time was 6 days (range 2-19 days). There were 24 males and 7 females with a mean age of 7 years (range 1-13 years). The fractures were classified as type III-A (n = 15; 48%) and type III-B (n = 16; 52%) according to Gartland. Surgical treatment consisting of sentiment manual reduction through a medial approach and percutaneous cross-pinning was applied to all. No image intensifier was used during the procedures. A long-arm splint was used for post-operative immobilization.
Results:
The average hospital stay was 2 days (range 1-3 day) and the patients were followed clinically and radiographically for an average of 4 years (range 2-11 years). Pins were removed at the end of the third week post-operatively, at which time the range of motion exercises were begun. None of the patients required physical therapy and full functional recovery was achieved within 3 months in 29 (93.5%) patients and within 5 months in the remaining 2 (6.5%). Two (6.5%) pre-operative nerve injuries (1 interosseous, 1 ulnar) were resolved spontaneously within 3 months post-operatively. At the final follow-up, 7 (22.5%) patients had cubitus varus deformity. Except for 2 (6.5%) pin-tract infections, which were resolved by oral antibiotics and pin removal, none of the patients had early or late complications, not even neurological deficit or myositis ossificans.
Conclusions:
Delayed presentation of displaced supracondylar humerus fractures in children did not increase complication rates or unsatisfactory results following an open reduction. Medial approach and cross-pinning is an effective and reliable treatment method for these fractures.
