Immobilization after pediatric supracondylar humerus fracture surgery: Cast or splint?

Year 2022, Volume: 35 Issue: 2, 121 - 126, 30.05.2022

Ahmet Hamdi Akgulle Evrim Sırın Ozgur Baysal Murat Polat Yavuz Sahbat , Bulent Erol

https://doi.org/10.5472/marumj.1089683

Abstract

Objective: While surgical treatment is the most accepted treatment method for displaced supracondylar humerus fractures in children,
there is little data about immobilization method after surgery. The aim of the study is to determine whether there is any difference in
preventing loss of reduction between long-arm cast and long-arm splint following pediatric supracondylar humerus fracture surgery.

Patients and Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of pediatric patients with supracondylar humerus fractures treated
operatively between 2012 and 2019 at a university hospital. According to Skaggs criteria, early postoperative and 3rd-week follow-up
X-rays were evaluated for the loss of reduction (LOR). Postoperative immobilization method; splint or cast was compared in the
context of LOR.

Results: Cast immobilization was found to be superior in preventing LOR in the first three weeks postoperatively (p˂0.05). There was
no significant difference for other factors like fracture configuration, patient age and surgical technique.

Conclusion: Cast immobilization is superior to splint immobilization in preventing radiologic LOR after pediatric supracondylar
humerus fracture surgery however, clinical relevance of this conclusion is yet to be proved.
Keywords: Supracondylar humerus fracture, Postoperative immobilization, Loss of reduction

Keywords

Supracondylar humerus fracture, Postoperative immobilization, Loss of reduction

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