Outcomes of Gartland type III supracondylar fractures treated using Blount's method

Late Deep Infections Complicating Percutaneous Pinning of Supracondylar Humerus Fractures

Objectives

Complications following treatment of supracondylar humerus fractures are typically seen shortly postoperatively. Late complications occurring years after percutaneous pinning are rare but can be indolent and have permanent sequelae. We present cases of children presenting with late deep infections to discuss their diagnosis and treatment.

Methods

After institutional review board approval, we retrospectively reviewed records of three children who developed deep infections at least one year after percutaneous pinning of their supracondylar humerus fracture. Patient details and outcomes were analyzed. Radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging were reviewed along with each patient's clinical course and treatment.

Results

We report 3 cases of osteomyelitis and/or septic arthritis presenting at least one year after supracondylar humerus fractures treated with closed reduction and percutaneous pinning. The patients required several irrigation and debridement procedures with placement of antibiotic beads in addition to a prolonged course of antibiotics.

Conclusion

Delayed deep infections can occur after closed reduction and percutaneous pinning of supracondylar humerus fractures in children. Vigilance is required to diagnose and treat such occurrences, and prolonged follow-up is needed to monitor for recurrent or intractable infections.

Overview of the contemporary management of supracondylar humeral fractures in children

PURPOSE

Supracondylar fractures are common injuries accounting for approximately 15% of all fractures in children with a large body of literature on this subject.

METHODS

 This article critically appraises the available evidence to provide an overview of the treatment options including the role and timing of surgery, the geometry of wire fixation and the management of nerve and arterial injury.

CONCLUSION

 Management decisions are based on a number of considerations particularly fracture stability. Closed reduction and percutaneous K-wire stabilisation are commonly recommended for an unstable displaced fracture. These techniques are however associated with the potential for iatrogenic neurological injury. Vascular injury is also rare but must be recognised and treated promptly to avoid significant permanent morbidity.

[Supracondylar humeral fractures in childhood]

The classification of supracondylar humeral fractures in German-speaking areas is carried out according to von Laer, which has been appropriated from the AO system and has the advantage that it can be used to derive the treatment. When indicated immediate surgery is given preference over a delayed treatment. The result is controlled by functional tests directly during the operation. Instability of the fracture and correct placement of the Kirschner (K) wires are challenging. Alternatives are an external fixator and elastically stable intramedullary nailing (ESIN). Concomitant injuries initially affect the median nerve and the brachial artery and secondarily the radial nerve. Lesions of the ulnar nerve are mostly a postoperative complication. The bony consolidation is achieved after 3-4 weeks and afterwards implant removal can be safely carried out. Embedded K‑wires and ESIN are removed after 3-6 months, depending on the surgical capacity and complaints of the patient.

Can Gartland II and III supracondylar humerus fractures be treated using Blount's method in the emergency room?

BACKGROUND

Studies have established that Blount's method is reliable for treating extension supracondylar fractures (SCFs) in paediatric patients. Reduction in the emergency room (ER) under procedural sedation followed by orthopaedic treatment is increasingly used for many fracture types. The primary objective of this study was to determine whether SCF reduction in the ER was feasible, by determining the failure rate. The secondary objective was to identify causes of failure with the goal of improving patient selection to reduction in the ER.

HYPOTHESIS

Gartland II and III SCFs (Lagrange-Rigault grades 2-4) can be treated in the emergency room under fluoroscopic guidance and with procedural sedation.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted in 128 paediatric patients who underwent ER reduction of an SCF in 2014-2015. Mean age was 5.6 years. Reduction was performed either by an orthopaedic surgery resident or by a specially trained emergency physician.

RESULTS

Of the 128 SCFs, 101 (79%) were Gartland II and 27 Gartland III. In the Lagrange-Rigault classification, 55 (43%) fractures were grade 2, 59 (46%) were grade 3, and 14 (11%) were grade 4. The arm was immobilised using the cuff-and-collar method described by Blount for 4 weeks. All 128 fractures healed without delay. Blount's method alone was effective in 112 (87.5%) patients. Of the 16 other patients, 15 (Lagrange-Rigault 3, n=14; and 4, n=1) had an unstable fracture after ER reduction and were managed by reduction and internal fixation in the operating room. The remaining patient (0.5%) experienced secondary displacement requiring revision surgery in the operating room.

CONCLUSION

SCFs grades 2 to 4 in the Lagrange-Rigault classification (Gartland II and III) can be treated in the ER by specially trained physicians. Lagrange-Rigault grade 3/Gartland III SCFs are more likely to require subsequent internal fixation but do not contraindicate reduction in the ER.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV, retrospective study.

Management of supracondylar fractures of the humerus in children

Supracondylar fractures of the humerus are the most frequent fractures of the paediatric elbow, with a peak incidence at the ages of five to eight years.

Extension-type fractures represent 97% to 99% of cases. Posteromedial displacement of the distal fragment is the most frequent; however, the radial and median nerves are equally affected. Flexion-type fractures are more commonly associated with ulnar nerve injuries.

Concomitant upper-limb fractures should always be excluded. To manage the vascular status, distal pulse and hand perfusion should be monitored. Compartment syndrome should always be borne in mind, especially when skin puckering, severe ecchymosis/swelling, vascular alterations or concomitant forearm fractures are present.

Gartland’s classification shows high intra- and inter-observer reliability. Type I is treated with casting. Surgical treatment is the standard for almost all displaced fractures. Type IV fractures can only be diagnosed intra-operatively.

Closed reduction and percutaneous pinning is the gold standard surgical treatment. Open reduction via the anterior approach is indicated for open fractures, absence of the distal vascular flow for > 10 to 15 minutes after closed reduction, and failed closed reduction.

Lateral entry pins provide stable fixation, avoiding the risk of iatrogenic ulnar nerve injury.

About 10% to 20% of displaced supracondylar fractures present with alterations in vascular status. In most cases, fracture reduction restores perfusion.

Neural injuries occur in 6.5% to 19% of cases involving displaced fractures. Most of them are neurapraxias and it is not routinely indicated to explore the nerve surgically.

Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2018;3:526-540. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.3.170049