Tag Archive for: Anatomical reduction

Complications of Lateral Humeral Condyle Fractures in Children

Volume 7 | Issue 2 | May-August 2021 | Page: 42-47 | Vikas Basa, Avi Shah, Shital N Parikh

Authors: Vikas Basa [1], Avi Shah [2], Shital N Parikh [3]

[1] Department of Orthopaedics, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital and Medical Institute Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
[2] Department of Orthopaedics, SRCC Childrens Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
[3] Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Burnet Av, Cincinnati, OH.

Address of Correspondence
Dr. Shital N Parikh,
Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital 3333. Burnet Av Cincinnati, OH. 45229.
E-mail: Shital.parikh@cchmc.org


Abstract

Lateral humeral condyle fractures in children are easily missed and often associated with complications. These complications include malunion, delayed union or nonunion, lateral spur formation, fishtail deformity and growth disturbances. There is also controversy related to best treatment options including closed vs open reduction and K-wire vs screw fixation. Though some complications like malunion are avoidable, others like lateral spur formation are inevitable. Knowledge about these complications would help in counseling patients and their families. The purpose of this article was to review common complications related to these fractures and suggest tips to avoid some of them.
Keywords: Paediatric, Lateral condyle fracture, Internal oblique X-ray, Arthrogram, Anatomical reduction, Complications, Tips to overcome


References

1. Bhandari M, Tornetta P and Swiontkowksi MF The Evidence-Based Orthopaedic Trauma Working Group. Displaced lateral condyle fractures of the distal humerus. J Orthop Trauma 2003; 17: 306-308.
2. Hardacre JA, Nahigian SH, Froimson AI and Brown JE. Fractures of the lateral condyle of the humerus in children. J Bone Joint Surg (Am) 1971; 53: 1083–1095.
3.Flynn JC: Nonunion of slightly displaced fractures of the lateral humeral condyle in children: An update. J Pediatr Orthop 1989;9(6):691-696
4. Song KS, Kang CH, Min BW, Bae KC and Cho CH. Internal oblique radiographs for diagnosis of nondisplaced or minimally displaced lateral condylar fractures of the humerus in children. J Bone Joint Surg Am 2007; 89: 58–63.
5. Jakob R, Fowles JV, Rang M and Kassab MT. Observations concerning fractures of the lateral humeral condyle in children. J Bone Joint Surg (Br) 1975; 57: 430–436.
6. Weiss JM, Graves S, Yang S, et al. A new classification system predictive of complications in surgically treated pediatric humeral lateral condyle fractures. J Pediatr Orthop. 2009;29: 602–605.
7. Schroeder K, Gilbert S, Ellington M, Souder C, Yang S. Pediatric Lateral Humeral Condyle Fractures. JPOSNA. 2020 May 3;2(1).
8. Skak SV, Olsen SD, Smaabrekke A: Deformity after fracture of the lateral humeral condyle in children. J Pediatr Orthop B 2001; 10:142-152.
9. Rutherford A: Fractures of the lateral humeral condyle in children. J Bone Joint Surg (Am) 1985;67(6):851-856
10. Badelon O, Bensahel H, Mazda K, Vie P: Lateral humeral condylar fractures in children: A report of 47 cases. J Pediatr Orthop 1988;8(1):31-34.
11. So YC, Fang D, Leong JC, Bong SC: Varus deformity following lateral humeral condylar fractures in children. J Pediatr Orthop 1985;5(5):569-572.
12. Tejwani N, Phillips D, Goldstein RY. Management of lateral humeral condylar fracture in children. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2011; 19:350–358
13. Tan SH, Dartnell J, Lim AK, Hui JH. Paediatric lateral condyle fractures: a systematic review. Arch Ortho Trauma Surgery. 2018 Jun 1;138(6):809-17.
14. Wirmer J, Kruppa C, Fitze G. Operative treatment of lateral humeral condyle fractures in children. Eur J Pediatr Surg 2012: 22(4):289–294
15. Bauer AS, Bae DS, Brustowicz KA, Waters PM. Intra-articular corrective osteotomy of humeral lateral condyle malunions in children: early clinical and radiographic results. J Pediatr Orthop. 2013 Jan 1;33(1):20-5.
16. Dhillon KS, Sengupta S, Singh BJ. Delayed management of fracture of the lateral humeral condyle in children. Acta Orthop Scand. 1988; 59:419–424
17. Beaty JH, Kasser JR. Rockwood & Wilkens fractures in children. 7th ed. Philadelphia. Wolters Kluwer /Lippincott Williams and Wilkens; 2010
18. Wadsworth TG. Injuries of the capitular (lateral humeral condylar) epiphysis. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1972; 85:127–142.
19. Cates RA, Mehlman CT. Growth arrest of the capitellar physis after displaced lateral condyle fractures in children. J Pediatr Orthop. 2012 Dec 1;32(8): e57-62.
20. Sinikumpu, J-J, Pokka, T, Victorzon, S, et al.: Paediatric lateral humeral condylar fracture outcomes at twelve years’ follow-up as compared with age and sex matched paired controls. Int Orthop 2017; 41:1453–1461.
21. Papandrea R, Waters PM. Posttraumatic reconstruction of the elbow in the pediatric patient. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2000; 370:115-26.
22. Mader K, Koslowsky TC, Gausepohl T, Pennig D. Mechanical distraction for the treatment of posttraumatic stiffness of the elbow in children and adolescents: surgical technique. J Bone Joint Surg. 2007 Mar 1;89(2_suppl_1):26-35.
23. Salgueiro L, Roocroft JH, Bastrom TP, Edmonds EW, Pennock AT, Upasani VV, Yaszay B. Rate and risk factors for delayed healing following surgical treatment of lateral condyle humerus fractures in children. J Pediatr Orthop. 2017 Jan 1;37(1):1-6.
24. Abzug JM, Dua K, Kozin SH, Herman MJ. Current concepts in the treatment of lateral condyle fractures in children. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2020 Jan 1;28(1): e9-19.
25. Pribaz JR, Bernthal NM, Wong TC, Silva M: Lateral spurring (overgrowth) after pediatric lateral condyle fractures. J Pediatr Orthop 2012; 32:456-460.
26. Leonidou A, Chettiar K, Graham S, et al: Open reduction internal fixation of lateral humeral condyle fractures in children: A series of 105 fractures from a single institution. Strateg Trauma Lim Reconstr. 2014; 9:73-78.
27. Shirley E, Anderson M, Neal K, Mazur J: Screw fixation of lateral condyle fractures: Results of treatment. J Pediatr Orthop 2015; 35:821-824.
28. Li WC, Xu RJ: Comparison of Kirschner wires and AO cannulated screw internal fixation for displaced lateral humeral condyle fracture in children. Int Orthop 2012; 36:1261-1266.
29. Narayanan S, Shailam R, Grottkau BE, Nimkin K: Fishtail deformity: A delayed complication of distal humeral fractures in children. Pediatr Radiol 2015;45: 814-819.
30. Glotzbecker MP, Bae DS, Links AC, Waters PM. Fishtail deformity of the distal humerus: a report of 15 cases. J Pediatr Orthop. 2013 Sep 1;33(6):592-7.
31. Hasler CC, von Laer L Prevention of growth disturbances after fractures of the lateral humeral condyle in children. J Pediatr Orthop B 2001: 10(2):123–130
32. Foster DE, Sullivan JA, Gross RH Lateral humeral condylar fractures in children. J Pediatr Orthop 1985: 5(1):16–22
33. Gilbert SR, MacLennan PA, Schlitz RS, Estes AR. Screw versus pin fixation with open reduction of pediatric lateral condyle fractures. J Pediatr Orthop B. 2016 Mar 1;25(2):148-52.
34. Stein BE, Ramji AF, Hassanzadeh H, Wohlgemut JM, Ain MC, Sponseller PD. Cannulated lag screw fixation of displaced lateral humeral condyle fractures is associated with lower rates of open reduction and infection than pin fixation. J Pediatr Orthop. 2017 Jan 1;37(1):7-13.
35. Birkett N, Al-Tawil K, Montgomery A. Functional Outcomes Following Surgical Fixation of Paediatric Lateral Condyle Fractures of the Elbow – A Systematic Review. Orthop Res Rev. 2020 Mar 6; 12:45-52.
36. Wendling-Keim DS, Teschemacher S, Dietz HG, Lehner M. Lateral Condyle Fracture of the Humerus in Children: Kirschner Wire or Screw Fixation? Eur J Pediatr Surg . 2020 Jul 28.
37. Qin YF, Li ZJ, Li CK, Bai SC, Li H. Unburied versus buried wires for fixation of pediatric lateral condyle distal humeral fractures: A meta-analysis. Medicine. 2017 Aug;96(34).
38. Ormsby NM, Walton RD, Robinson S, Brookes-Fazakerly S, Chang FY, McGonagle L, Wright D. Buried versus unburied Kirschner wires in the management of paediatric lateral condyle elbow fractures: a comparative study from a tertiary centre. J Pediatr Orthop B. 2016 Jan 1;25(1):69-73.
39. De SD, Bae DS, Waters PM. Displaced humeral lateral condyle fractures in children: should we bury the pins? J Pediatr Orthop. 2012 Sep 1;32(6):573-8.
40. Thomas DP, Howard AW, Cole WG, Hedden DM. Three weeks of Kirschner wire fixation for displaced lateral condylar fractures of the humerus in children. J Pediatr Orthop 2001: 21(5):565–569
41. Andrey V, Tercier S, Vauclair F, Bregou-Bourgeois A, Lutz N, Zambelli PY. Lateral condyle fracture of the humerus in children treated with bioabsorbable materials. Sci World J 2013: 9:869418.


How to Cite this Article:  Basa V, Shah A, Parikh SN | Complications of Lateral Humeral Condyle Fractures in Children | International Journal of Paediatric Orthopaedics | May-August 2021; 7(2): 42-47.

(Article Text HTML)      (Download PDF)