Paediatric Lateral Humeral Condyle Fractures Managed by K-wire Fixation, Should the Wires be Buried or Left Exposed: A Prospective Study | Chapter 12 | Highlights on Medicine and Medical Science Vol. 13

 Background: The lateral condyle of the humerus is frequently fractured in children. If they are misplaced or unstable, they may require surgical reduction and fixation with Kirschner wires (K-wires). These can either be visible or hidden subcutaneously after passing through the skin.

Aims and Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate which method of K-wire installation (hidden vs exposed) was best for lateral condylar fractures treated with K-wire fixation.

Materials and Methods: A prospective study was undertaken in the department of orthopaedics at my institution from January 2019 to March 2020. A total of 37 people were involved in the study.

Results: Patients were followed for three months, with results based on clinico-radiological measurements of union, infection, carrying angle at the elbow, and range of motion (ROM).

Conclusion: The buried wire group had a higher rate of union than the exposed wire group, and the wires could be removed under local anaesthesia, saving time and money. This is a better option than the exposed cohort since the chance of infection is lower.

Author (S) Details

Nitin Choudhary
Department of Orthopaedics, Govt. Medical College, Jammu, J&K India.

Sanjeev Gupta
Department of Orthopaedics, Govt. Medical College, Jammu, J&K India.

Neeraj Mahajan
Department of Orthopaedics, Govt. Medical College, Jammu, J&K India.

Rahul Mahajan
Department of Orthopaedics, Govt. Medical College, Jammu, J&K India.

Amar Saharan
Department of Orthopaedics, Govt. Medical College, Jammu, J&K India.

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