Patient-reported outcomes after operative versus nonoperative treatment of pediatric lateral humeral condyle fractures

Lateral humeral condyle fractures in children are treated with several approaches, yet it is unclear which has the best treatment outcomes. We hypothesized that functional outcomes would be equivalent between treatment types, reduction approaches, and fixation types. Our purpose was to assess patient-reported outcomes and complications by treatment type (operative versus nonoperative), reduction approach (open versus percutaneous), and fixation type (cannulated screws versus Kirschner wires). We retrospectively reviewed data from acute lateral humeral condyle fractures treated at our level-1 pediatric trauma center from 2008 to 2017. Patients were included if they were 8 years or older and had completed clinical follow-up. Fractures were categorized by fracture severity as mild (<2-mm displacement), moderate (isolated, 2- to 5-mm displacement), or severe (isolated, >5-mm displacement or >2-mm displacement with concomitant elbow dislocation or other elbow fracture). We extracted data on patient age, sex, treatment type, reduction approach, fixation type, patient-reported outcomes (shortened Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand and Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information System upper extremity), treatment complications, and follow-up duration. Patients in the operative versus nonoperative group and across fracture severity subgroups did not differ significantly by age, sex, or follow-up duration. Bivariate analysis was performed to determine whether outcomes differed by intervention. Alpha = 0.05. No differences were observed in patient-reported outcomes between operative versus nonoperative groups for the mild and severe fracture subgroups. No differences were observed between approach (open versus percutaneous) or instrumentation (cannulated screw versus Kirschner wire fixation) for any outcome measure within the operative group. Patients whose fractures were stabilized with screws versus wires had significantly higher rates of return to the operating room (94% versus 8.3%, P < .001). The overall complication rate for our cohort was low, with no differences by treatment type or fracture severity. In our cohort, patient-reported outcomes were similar across fracture severity categories, irrespective of treatment or fixation type. Patients who underwent internal fixation with cannulated screws experienced significantly higher rates of return to the operating room compared with those treated with Kirschner wires but otherwise had similar complication rates and patient-reported outcomes. Level of Evidence: 3