Nirav S. Patel1, Paresh V. Patil2, Kiran L. Gaonkar3, Pravin P. Patil4, Himanshu Kulkarni5, Ketan R.Gupta6, Mandar S. Shaha7, Nagesh R. Desai8
INTRODUCTION: Displaced supracondylar fractures of humerus are one of the most common fractures in paediatric age group with preferred treatment being close reduction with percutaneous k-wire fixation. This study compares whether lateral pin construct alone can provide same stability like medial and lateral pin fixation, and prevent iatrogenic ulnar nerve injury
MATERIAL & METHODS: This is a prospective comparative randomized controlled trial. A total of 60 patients of displaced supracondylar fracture aged between 3-12 years with fresh fracture, without any compound injury or communition were enrolled for the study and randomly divided into two groups, A and B. For each group of 30 patients, they were assigned treatment of crossed pinning and lateral pinning respectively and outcome was evaluated on basis of pain, motion, stability and function according to Mayo’s elbow score and follow-up was maintained for a period of 45 days and test for statistical significance were applied.
RESULTS: After assessing 30 patients in each group we found out that mean mayo score was 98 in cross pinning group and 96.83 in lateral pinning group. This difference is statistically not significant. (p value - 0.502).
CONCLUSION: In our study we conclude that, Lateral pinning is an equally good treatment choice in these fractures and especially for grossly swollen elbows in which medial epicondyle is barely palpable with increased risk of ulnar nerve injury during placement of medial pin. Both the methods offer consistently satisfactory functional and cosmetic results
