[Long-term results of treatment of supra-condylar humerus fractures in children].

From 1982 to 1986, a total of 106 children with supracondylar fractures of the humerus were treated at the trauma surgery clinic in Braunschweig. Undisplaced or slightly displaced fractures were treated with plaster casts. More severely displaced fractures were initially treated by closed reduction under general anesthesia and percutaneous Kirschner wiring. In 72 cases (= 85.7%) a follow-up examination revealed a very good or good result. In 9 cases (= 10.7%) satisfactory results were found and in 3 cases (= 3.6%) unsatisfactory results. The most common complication prejudicing the result was cubitus varus. It was found in 27 cases (= 32.1%), most often with a varus under 10 degrees (19 of the 27 cases). A retrospective study of the 12 cases in which the results were classified as satisfactory or unsatisfactory showed 8 insufficient reductions in fractures with severe instability.