[What to do in cases of postoperative damage of the ulnar nerve after K‑wire osteosynthesis of supracondylar humeral fractures in childhood?]

INTRODUCTION: Iatrogenic damage to the ulnar nerve after crossed Kirschner wire osteosynthesis of supracondylar humeral fractures is a preventable complication in pediatric traumatology, which occurs in up to 10% of cases. There are strategies in the literature for avoiding this complication but no consistent suggestions for action in the presence of the damage.
METHOD: Within the framework of a questionnaire survey with the support of the German Society for Trauma Surgery, 198 pediatric and trauma surgeons presented their treatment algorithm based on case examples.
RESULTS: In preoperatively known accident-related sensorimotor failure, 76.3% perform revision surgery of the nerve as part of primary care. If the treatment-related nerve damage occurs immediately postoperatively, up to 84.3% do this immediately. The rate depends on the extent of nerve damage (sensory vs. sensorimotor) and the reduction method (open vs. closed). The later the nerve damage is diagnosed, the sooner the original course of treatment with timely metal removal is retained or neurophysiological examinations are included.
CONCLUSION: Respondents used the clinical extent of the lesion, the timing of the diagnosis and the nature of primary care as criteria for the indications in postoperative ulnar nerve damage. Differences in outcome between invasive and waiting strategies cannot be derived from the study.