Percutaneous leverage reduction with two Kirschner wires combined with the Métaizeau technique versus open reduction plus internal fixation with a single Kirschner-wire for treating Judet IV radial neck fractures in children

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical effectiveness of a novel approach, percutaneous leverage reduction using two Kirschner-wires (k-wires) combined with the Métaizeau technique, versus open reduction plus internal fixation with k-wire for the treatment of Judet IV radial neck fractures in children. METHODS: Thirty-four patients with Judet IV radial neck fractures were treated either with percutaneous leverage reduction using two k-wires and the Métaizeau technique (n = 16) or open reduction plus internal fixation with k-wire (n = 18). Patient data including sex, age, time from trauma to surgery, fracture type, follow up, postoperative healing time, X-ray studies, elbow function, and complications were collected. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in patient characteristics between the two treatment groups. In postoperative elbow function assessment, 93.8% of patients in the group that underwent the novel treatment approach had a score of excellent or good, compared with 83.3% of patients in the open reduction and internal fixation with k-wire group. Furthermore, no postoperative complications were reported in patients in the novel treatment group, compared with 5 patients in the open reduction and internal fixation with k-wire group. All patients in both groups were classified as excellent or good according to Métaizeau criteria in postoperative X-ray assessment. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with the open reduction and internal fixation with k-wire approach, percutaneous leverage reduction using two k-wires combined with the Métaizeau technique can significantly increase the minimally invasive reduction rate, and represents an attractive strategy for the treatment of Judet IV radial neck fractures in children.