Displaced fractures of the lateral humeral condyle: criteria for implant removal.

Displaced fractures of the lateral humeral condyle have been successfully treated with closed or open reduction and pinning. However, there is no consensus as to when the implants should be removed, with the recommended time ranging from 3 to 8 weeks. The purpose of this study was to assess the results after treatment of displaced lateral condyle fractures of the humerus in children and formulate guidelines for removing the implants. Fifty-five patients with displaced fractures were included in this study. A modified Hardacre functional rating system was used to grade the final clinical result. In 50 patients the fracture was clinically and radiographically healed at 6 weeks, in 4 patients at 5 weeks, and in only 1 patient at 4 weeks. The implants should not be removed until healing can be demonstrated radiographically. This time averaged 6 or more weeks in most of the patients in this study.