Managing paediatric un-stable lateral condyle fractures of humerus with unburried Kirschner wires

Introduction: Lateral condyle fractures are one of the commonest injuries encountered in the emergency orthopaedics. The intra-articular nature of the fracture and the high incidence of non-union following fracture makes the open reduction and internal fixation as the treatment of choice. The ORIF has been reported successfully by various institutes as the method of choice using K-wire as the fixation tool. The complications related to the hardware are many. The complication related to buried K-wires are reported to be skin sloughing and back out of wire with the disadvantage of another admission at the time of removal. The un-buried K-wires are however easy to remove and do not require another admission. Present study was aimed to see the results following unburied Kirschner wire fixation of lateral condyle fractures in paediatric population. Material and Methods: Fifty consecutive patients of lateral condyle fractures treated surgically with un-buried K wires were included in the study. Results: The mean age of the patient in our study was 6.5 years. Forty four percent in the age group 6-9 with 80% (n=40) male predominance. Left side was involved in 70% cases (n=35). Eighty six percent (n=43) had fracture while playing and rest had fall from height. As per the type of fracture, we had equal number in type II and type III (n=25 each). Fifty six percent patients had excellent results while forty four percent had good results on final follow up. Conclusion: Our study depicts that un-buried K wires in lateral condyle fractures gives good results without need for second surgery. This is cheap, readily available and easy method of fixation. Keywords: Lateral condyle fractures; k wire fixation; Unburied wires