Ultrasound-guided reduction and percutaneous crossed pin fixation for the treatment of displaced supracondylar fracture of the humerus in children

Abstract

To investigate the effect of ultrasound guided reduction and exploration of ulnar nerve position and percutaneous crossed pin fixation for the treatment of displaced supracondylar fracture of the humerus in children. The clinical data of 45 patients with displaced supracondylar fracture of humerus from December 2017 to December 2018 were analyzed retrospectively, including 26 boys and 19 girls, ranging in age from 1 year and 3 months to 11 years and 4 months, with an average of 7.6 years old;44 cases of crashing injury, 1 case of falling injury;29 cases on the left side, 16 cases on the right side;12 patients classified to Gartland typeⅡand 33 patients classified to Gartlandtype Ⅲ. The operation was performed from 4 h to 7 d after injury, with an average of 2.5 d. There were no neurological and vascular injuries occurred in the children. Ultrasound was used to guide the fracture reduction of the child, and the cross-needle was fixed. In the medial needle insertion, the ulnar nerve position was detected by ultrasound to avoid damage to the ulnar nerve. The ulnar nerve state was observed during operation. The clinical function evaluation criteria of Flynn was used at the latest follow-up. The evaluation criteria was used to evaluate the functional and aesthetic characteristics of the elbow joints of the children, and to observe the complications such as ulnar nerve injury after operation. Ultrasound was used to detect the fracture from the medial side of the elbow, the lateral aspect of the elbow and the sagittal plane of the elbow. The position of the ulnar nerve could be clearly explored to avoid ulnar nerve injury when the needle was inserted inside. All children were followed up, and the duration ranged from 6 to 12 months, with an average of 9 months. None of the patients had a loss of repositioning and the fractures healed. The healing time ranged from 4 to 6 weeks, with an average of 5 weeks. At the latest follow-up, according to Flynn's evaluation criteria:compared with the healthy side, 41 patients with flexion and extension limitation were 0° to 5°, clinically evaluated as excellent;3 patients with flexion and extension limitation were 6° to 10°, clinically evaluated as good;1 patient with flexion and extension limitation was 11° to 15°, clinically evaluated as acceptable. Compared with the healthy side, 40 patients lost 0° to 5°of the angle, and 5 patients lost 6° to 10°of the angle. There were no complications such as ulnar nerve injury and cubitus varus. Although ultrasound-guided treatment of displaced supracondylar fracture of the humerus in children has higher requirements for the operator at present, because of its advantages of clear development, portability, effectiveness and no impact on health, it could clearly explorethe fracture situation during the operation, guide the reduction of the fracture, and accurately show the position of the ulnar nerve, effectively improve the safety of the medial puncture, so as to minimize the complications The occurrence of the disease. Therefore, the treatment of displaced supracondylar fracture of humerus with ultrasound-guided manual reduction and percutaneous cross needle fixation is effective and worthy of further promotion.