Early versus delayed treatment of lateral condylar fracture of the humerus with > 2 mm displacement in children: a retrospective study

Abstract

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical and functional outcomes of early versus delayed treatment of pediatric lateral condylar fractures of the humerus with a displacement greater than 2 mm. Methods Sixty-seven children treated surgically at our hospital from March 2016 to September 2021 for lateral condylar fracture of the humerus with displacement > 2 mm were retrospectively analyzed. The children were divided into two groups where early surgery consisted of patients being operated on within 24-h post-injury (n = 36) and delayed surgery consisted of children operated after 24-h post-injury (n = 31). Clinical and functional results were compared between the two groups. Results There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of operation time, blood loss and incidences of perioperative complications. However, mean length of incision was significantly greater (P 2 mm in children. However, delayed open reduction and pinning may increase the incision length possibly due to increased edema.

Keywords

• Lateral condylar fracture
• Humerus
• Delayed surgery
• Incision length
• Pediatric