The Surgical Treatment Of Delayed Lateral Condyle Fractures Of Humerus In Children

Objective To study the operation therapy effect of the delayed lateral condylar fracture of humerus in children. Methods We retrospectively study eleven cases we have deal with from April 2011 to September 2014, including 9 males and 2 females, the mean age was 6 years (range:3.5-11 years). The mean time post injury was 8 weeks (range:3-13 weeks). There were five Jakob type Ⅱ and 6 type Ⅲ fractures. All patients’elbow function was restricted in varying degree,and were treated by open reduction and internal fixation with K-wires. Results After an average follow-up of 11 months. (range:4-18 months), all the cases have been union. Except one of the cases’elbow function have been improved a little bit, owing mainly to delay to exercise the elbow joint. And another patient developed cubitus varus 4 months after operation, the varus angle is about 10°. The others have a good result compared to pre-operation. According to the elbow function (Li rensheng et al. criteria), the result were excellent in 7 patients, and good in 4 patients. Conclusion The open reduction and internal fixation can also be use to deal with the delayed fractures of the lateral humeral condyle in children, as it can prevent the forward complications, and to improve the patients’elbow function and appearance.