Correlation of Fall Height, Fracture Severity and Clinical Outcome in Pediatric Supracondylar Fractures—A Retrospective Analysis with an Observation Period of 20 Years
Andrea Schuller,
Sebastian Hahn,
Lorenz Pichler,
Anna Hohensteiner,
Thomas Sator,
Manuela Jaindl,
Elisabeth Schwendenwein,
Thomas Tiefenboeck,
Stephan Payr
Affiliations
Andrea Schuller
Department of Trauma Surgery, University Clinic of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Sebastian Hahn
Department of Trauma Surgery, University Clinic of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Lorenz Pichler
Department of Trauma Surgery, University Clinic of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Anna Hohensteiner
Department of Trauma Surgery, University Clinic of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Thomas Sator
Department of Trauma Surgery, University Clinic of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Manuela Jaindl
Department of Trauma Surgery, University Clinic of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Elisabeth Schwendenwein
Department of Trauma Surgery, University Clinic of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Thomas Tiefenboeck
Department of Trauma Surgery, University Clinic of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Stephan Payr
Department of Trauma Surgery, University Clinic of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
The most common cause leading to supracondylar humerus fractures in children is falling onto an outstretched arm. A correlation between fall height and fracture severity may be assumed but has not yet been described. The aim of this study was to show that fracture severity increases with fall height. Furthermore, the correlation between fracture severity and outcome was examined. A total of 971 children with supracondylar humerus fractures between January 2000 and December 2019 were included in this study. The correlations between fall height and fracture severity and between fracture severity and outcome were assessed. Increasing fall height correlates with fracture severity (p p < 0.001; r = 0.28). A total of 30 (3.1%) patients showed limitations in range of motion and/or persistent neurologic deficits at the latest follow-up. Type I fractures rarely lead to subsequent limitations. The correlation between increasing fall height and fracture severity was significant. Furthermore, children with type III and IV supracondylar fractures are more likely to develop complications or restrictions in movement than children with type I and II fractures. Hence, the initial fall height may be an indirect indicator of a more or less favorable outcome.
