Supracondylar fracture of the humerus in children

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Palmer-EE; Niemann-KM; Vesely-D; Armstrong-JH J-Bone-Joint-Surg-Am. 1978 Jul; 60(5): 653-6 Seventy-eight supracondylar fractures of the humerus in children were reviewed to compare four kinds of treatment: closed reduction and immobilization in a cast or splint, overhead skeletal traction, side-arm skeletal traction, and Dunlop's skin traction. The skeletal traction device usually used was a winged screw of our own design. The arms treated in overhead traction had significantly less change in carrying angle than those treated in side-arm traction. Significant changes in carrying angle were encountered in three instances of medially impacted so-called non-displaced fractures. There were two instances of significant carrying-angle change due to overgrowth of the lateral aspect of the distal part of the humerus. Overhead traction, utilizing a winged traction screw, was the most effective method of treatment that we found. There were no instances of Volkmann's ischemic contracture.