ANTERIOR EXPOSURE FOR OPEN REDUCTION OF SUPRACONDYLAR HUMERAL FRACTURES IN CHILDREN - A FORGOTTEN APPROACH

Objective: To describe the anterior approach for open reduction of sup racondylar fractures in children and to assess the morbidity and funct ional outcome. Design: Retrospective analysis. Setting: University Hos pital. Subjects: Eleven consecutive children (mean age 6 years, range 4-12) with supracondylar fractures who were treated by open reduction and fixation with a Kirschner wire through an anterior approach from 1 984-1990 and followed up after a mean of 9 weeks (range 5-16 weeks). R esults: There was no morbidity. Full functional recovery was achieved within four months of the accident. One patient had a mild (10 degrees ) varus deformity with normal function of the elbow. Conclusion: Open reduction of supracondylar fractures and fixation with a Kirschner wir e through an anterior approach is a logical, safe and elegant techniqu e, which we recommend for children in whom closed reduction has failed .