Amit K Kotecha,
Orthopaedic Fellow
New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton,
Richard Dias
Send letter to journal:
Re: Supracondylar humeral fractures in children
amit.kotecha{at}doctors.net.uk Amit K Kotecha, et al.
|
Sir,
We read this article with interest. The authors have commented that there is no consensus
on the timing of surgery and positioning of fixation wires. Previous
studies have shown that it is safe and prudent to treat supracondylar
humeral fractures in a controlled environment rather than in the middle of
the night.1,2 It has also been clearly shown in the past that fixation
of supracondylar humeral fractures with lateral pins is safe and
effective; it also prevents iatrogenic injury to the ulnar nerve.3
The authors have stated that only 1% of patients needed corrective
osteotomy for functional limitation, but it is not clear whether
their initial management of supracondylar fracture was
conservative or operative (whether closed or open reduction and fixation).
A.K. Kotecha, Orthopaedic Fellow,
R. Dias,
New Cross Hospital,
Wolverhampton, UK.
1.Green NE.
Overnight delay in the reduction of supracondylar fractures of the humerus
in children. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 2001;83-A:321.
2.Mehlman CT, Strub WM, Roy DR, Wall EJ, Crawford AH.
The effect of surgical timing on the perioperative complications of
treatment of supracondylar humeral fractures in children.
J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 2001;83-A:323.
3.Skaggs DL, Hale JM, Bassett J, et al.
Operative treatment of supracondylar fractures of the humerus in children: the consequences of pin placement.
J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 2001;83-A:735-740. |
eLetters: ![[Read eLetter]](/icons/misc/sectionDOWN.gif){kind=icon}
