Late presentation of supracondylar fracture of the humerus in children.

In children with delayed presentation of displaced supracondylar fractures, closed or open reduction with K-wire fixation risks complications. Gradually reducing the fracture with traction potentially reduces these risks. An unacceptable deformity can be corrected later by an osteotomy. This concept was used for 28 children, with an average age of 7 years 6 months, who presented after an average delay of 5.6 days. Their stay in the hospital was 14 days on average. At followup (average, 24 months), five children (18%) who had cubitus varus greater than 10 degrees had corrective osteotomy. There were no additional neurovascular injuries after treatment. The results are comparable with other methods of treatment.