Role of Percutaneous Screw Fixation in Children with Delayed Presentation and Nonunion of Lateral Condyle Humerus...

Delayed presentations and nonunion of lateral condyle of Humerus (LCH) fractures in children are common. It is recommended to gain elbow movements before placing single screw for late presenting LCH fractures. We examined the efficacy of a percutaneously placed screw in delayed presenting LCH fractures and LCH nonunion in children who presented with varying degree of elbow stiffness without waiting for improvement in elbow movements.

Sixteen children with LCH fractures presenting after six weeks of fracture, without signs of union, and with frank nonunion were treated with percutaneous placement of the cancellous screw. There was a delay of 1.5 to18 months before presenting to us. The results were assessed by Dhillon criteria.

All the patients at presentation had flexion deformity (avg 29⁰) and restricted flexion ((avg 100⁰). Successful radiological union was achieved in fifteen patients. All the patients had full recovery of extension. Fifteen patient regained full flexion and one patient has only 10⁰ flexion restriction (p value < 0.001). At the final follow-up, fifteen patients had excellent and one had a good overall Dhillon score. There was no clinically evident varus or valgus deformity.

We could achieve union in a majority of the patients with delayed presentation and established nonunion of LCH fractures with simple percutaneous screw placement, thereby avoiding open surgery, big scar, bone grafting, and AVN of LCH. We did not wait for an improvement in elbow movements before screw fixation and still all our patients regained full elbow movements with improved Dhillon scores.