Fractures of the lateral condyle of the humerus in children.

BACKGROUND Conservative treatment of fractures of the lateral humeral condyle in children is associated with many problems as noted previously by several authors. OBJECTIVE To determine the outcome of internal fixation of fractures of the lateral humeral condyle. DESIGN A prospective study. SETTING Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Asir Central Hospital, Abha, Saudi Arabia, between 1991 and 1998. SUBJECTS Sixteen children with fracture of the lateral humeral condyle. All were admitted via the Emergency Room and comprised 14 boys and two girls. Ages ranged between two and 11 years. INTERVENTIONS All the patients had some form of internal fixation. Percutaneous Kirschner K--wire fixation was done for the undisplaced and minimally displaced fractures and open reduction and K-wire fixation for the widely displaced and rotated fractures. One patient developed non-union of the lateral condyle fracture that required bone grafting and internal fixation with lag screw. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Enhancement of union and reduction of complications resulting from conservative treatment of the fractures. RESULTS Out of the sixteen cases, there was one case with a minor degree of mal-union on account of loose K-wire and one case with non-union following open reduction and internal fixation. CONCLUSION The authors recommend internal fixation of all fractures of the lateral humeral condyle in children irrespective of the degree of displacement.