Comparison of Posterior and Lateral Surgical Approach in Management of Type III Supracondylar Fractures of the Humerus among the Children
Narongsak Bamrungthin MD*
Affiliation : * Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chaiyaphum Hospital, Chaiyaphum
Objective : To compare the results between posterior and lateral approaches in surgical treatment of the type
III supracondylar humeral fractures in children.
Study
Results : Retrospective analytical study.
Material and Method: Two groups of patients who needed surgical treatment of type lll supracondylar
humeral fractures, 52 in posterior approaches and 30 in lateral approaches were followed up for 6 months, in
Chaiyaphum Hospital between 2004 and 2007.
Results : The posterior approach had a shorter operative time than the lateral approach (p < 0.001). The
overall scores by Flynn’s criteria showed that good and excellent outcomes were 80.7% in the posterior
approach group and 80% in the lateral approach group and there was no significant difference of complica-
tions.
Conclusion : The posterior approach had a shorter operative time than the lateral approach but no significant
differences were found in terms of results and complications.
Keywords : Supracondylar humeral fracture, Posterior and lateral approach, Children
