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Intracondylar T-type fractures of distal humerus represent a rare condition in paediatric population with unknown incidence since the literature is limited to case reports or case series. The main purpose of this article is to provide a comprehensive review of the current literature about the incidence and diagnostic modalities, as well as to evaluate all treatment options with results and complications. Review of the literature identified nine institutional reports in the period between 1984 and 2015, involving a total of 135 children and adolescents. Treatment options were open reduction with internal fixation and closed reduction in 118 and 17 cases, respectively. Open reduction was performed by different surgical approaches: triceps-sliding, triceps-splitting and olecranon osteotomy. Reported follow-up ranged from ten to 49 months. Outcomes were estimated by various tests, which are mainly based on range of motion. Patients younger than ten years generally had a better range of motion then older patients. Transient neuropathy and elbow stiffness were the most common complications, reported in 16.3% and 9.6% of cases, respectively. Despite the small number of reported clinical series, it is widely accepted that this fracture should be treated by open reduction with internal fixation to reduce and stabilise the displaced intra-articular fragments and to achieve anatomical congruity of the joint and integrity of medial and lateral columns.

Background: Closed reduction and percutaneous pinning are the preferred treatment of displaced supracondylar humeral fractures in children. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the non-standard Dorgan's method and compare its results with those of the standard percutaneous cross pinning method in treatment of unstable or irreducible Gartland type II and III supracondylar humeral fractures in children., Patients and Methods: This was a prospective evaluation of 138 consecutive patients with Gartland type II or III extension supracondylar humeral fractures referred to University Children's Hospital during a four-year period. The patients were randomized into two groups: the first group, comprised of 71 patients, was treated with standard pin configuration and the second group, comprised of 67 patients, underwent Dorgan's method. The study included 88 boys and 50 girls aged 1.5-11.4 years (mean 6.5±2). At initial presentation 8.7% (n-12) fractures were classified as Gartland type IIa, 25.4% (n-35) as Gartland type IIb and 65.9% (n-91) as Gartland type III., Results: Flynn's criteria were used to evaluate the results. An excellent clinical outcome was reported in about 90% of patients (n-90) treated with standard pin configuration and 89.5% (n-60) of patients treated with Dorgan's method. There were no statistically significant differences in outcomes between the groups in terms of their gender, age, fracture types, function and cosmetics. Neurological lesions were observed in 9.9% of patients (n=7) who were treated using the standard configuration Kirschner pins, while in those treated by Dorgan's method neurological complications were not observed. However, the procedure time was longer (mean 36.54±5.65min) and radiation exposure significantly higher (mean 10.19±2.70 exposures) in the group that was treated using Dorgan's method, compared to the conventional method (mean 28.66±3.76min and 7.54±1.63 exposures)., Conclusion: Two laterally inserted crossed pins provide adequate stability with good functional and cosmetic outcome for most unstable paediatric supracondylar humeral fractures with no risk of iatrogenic ulnar nerve injury., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Closed reduction and percutaneous pinning are the most widely used treatment options for displaced supracondylar humerus fractures in children, but there is still no consensus concerning the most preferred technique in injuries of the extension type., Objective: The aim of this study was to compare three common orthopaedic procedures in the treatment of displaced extension type supracondylar humerus fractures in children., Methods: Total of 93 consecutive patients (66 boys and 27 girls) referred to our hospital with Gartland type II or III extension supracondylar humeral fractures were prospectively included in the study over a six-year period. At initial presentation 48 patients were classified as Gartland type II and 45 as Gartland type III fractures. The patients were subdivided into three groups based on the following treatment modality: closed reduction with percutaneous pinning, open reduction with Kirschner wires (K-wires) fixation, and closed reduction with cast immobilisation. The treatment outcome and clinical characteristics were compared among groups, as well as evaluated using Flynn's criteria., Results: Excellent clinical outcome was reported in 70.3% of patients treated with closed reduction with percutaneous pinning and in 64.7% of patients treated with open reduction with K-wire fixation. The outcome was significantly worse in children treated with closed reduction and cast immobilisation alone, as excellent outcome is achieved in just 36.4% of cases (p = 0.011)., Conclusion: Closed reduction with percutaneous pinning is the method of choice in the treatment of displaced pediatric supracondylar humeral fracture, while open reduction with K-wire fixation is as a good alternative in cases with clear indications.

Elbow joint stiffness is a common complication following supracondylar humerus fractures. In prospective study, dynamics of establishing a full range of motion in the elbow joint following the treatment of supracondylar humerus fractures were assessed, together with the effects of physical therapy on improvement in the range of motion. Two groups of patients were observed. Physical therapy was administered to the first group, comprised of 25 patients. The second group, comprised of 28 patients, underwent no physical therapy. In the first few months following treatment, the range of motion was significantly greater in the patients who had undergone physical therapy, but after 12 months, the range of motion was almost equal in the two groups. This study has shown that it takes about 12 months to establish a full range of motion after the injury, and that it is not necessary to apply physical therapy in patients with elbow fractures.