PERCUTANEOUS PINNING IN THE TREATMENT OF DISPLACED LATERAL CONDYLE FRACTURES

This is a review of a unique group of 12 children with lateral condyle fractures of the distal humerus with displacement of >2 mm. Intraoper ative arthrograms of each elbow demonstrated no articular incongruity associated with minimal rotation of the distal fracture fragment. Afte r closed reduction the lateral condyle fractures were percutaneously p inned, obviating the need for open reduction and internal fixation. Th e results in this study group were uniformly excellent as based on the rating system of Hardacre. Each child had a normal range of elbow mot ion and all cases healed clinically and radiographically without compl ication. Previous literature has recommended that all lateral condyle fractures displaced >2 mm be treated with open reduction and internal fixation. The authors feel that in selected cases of lateral condyle f ractures with >2 mm displacement and an arthrographically demonstrated congruent joint surface, percutaneous pinning may safely and effectiv ely be performed.