Open reduction and pinning for the treatment of Gartland extension type III supracondylar humeral fractures in children

In this study, we aim to evaluate the clinical and radiological results of children who were treated with four different surgical approaches. In our clinics between February 2004 and November 2012, the children who underwent surgical treatment for supracondylar humeral fractures and whose data were available with regular follow-up of at least 1 year were included in the study. Clinical outcomes were evaluated for 54 patients with Gartland type 3 extension supracondylar fractures. Functional and cosmetic results of the patients were determined according to the Flynn criteria. Mean age of the patients was 4.9 (between 2 and 14) among which 26 of them were girls and 28 were boys. Mean operation time was 45 (35–85) min. Average length of hospital stay (LHS) was 2.9 (1–7) days. Average duration of splints was 3.5 (2–6) weeks, while the average removal period of the wires was 4.6 (3–8) weeks. Mean consolidation time was 4.6 weeks (3–8). Mean follow-up was 14.36 months. In our study, we performed 54 patients functional and cosmetic results. While 48 of the patients had satisfying results (excellent, good, or fair), six of them had unsatisfactory (poor) results. The results of this study suggest that clinical results with surgical treatment of Gartland type 3 extension fractures were satisfactory. However, the delay in the surgical treatment may cause a number of complications.