Open Reduction and Fixation of Late-Presenting Pediatric Supracondylar Humeral Fractures: A Prospective Study

Background: Supracondylar humeral fracture (SCHF) is a common injury in children, and early treatment provides excellent results and prevents disabilities. Delayed presentation is still prevalent, mainly in developing countries, because many factors hinder the opportunity to receive appropriate treatment. Currently, there are no standard treatment protocols, and there is insufficient published literature on this topic. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and outcomes of open reduction and Kirschner wire fixation using a triceps-sparing posterior approach in neglected cases with complicated fractures. Methods: This was a prospective multicenter clinical study conducted between July 2016 and June 2021, which included 28 pediatric patients with neglected SCHF who presented to the hospital for definitive treatment five days or more after initial trauma without previous surgical intervention. All the patients underwent open reduction and K-wire fixation using a posterior triceps-sparing approach. The final functional outcome was assessed using the Mayo Elbow Performance Index (MEPI) and Flynn criteria. Results: All fractures (100%) united within 3-5.5 weeks (mean 4 +/- 0.7 weeks). Excellent scores observed in 67.9% (n = 19), good in 21.4% (n = 6), fair in 7.1% (n=2), and poor in 3.6% (n = 1) patients according to MEPI. Correspondingly, Flynn's criteria showed 96.4% (n = 27) satisfactory and 3.6% (n = 1) unsatisfactory outcome. Conclusion: Open reduction and fixation using Kirschner wires through the posterior triceps-sparing approach is an effective treatment method for late-presenting SCHF in children with consequent satisfactory results.