Open AccessUnburied versus buried wires for fixation of pediatric lateral condyle distal humeral fractures
Author(s) -
Yafei Qin,
Zhijun Li,
Cheng-Kai Li,
Shu-Cai Bai,
Hui Li
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.59
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1536-5964
pISSN - 0025-7974
DOI - 10.1097/md.0000000000007736
Subject(s) - medicine , cochrane library , confidence interval , meta analysis , surgery , fixation (population genetics) , internal fixation , condyle , randomized controlled trial , population , environmental health
Open reduction and internal fixation with Kirschner (K) wires has been reported as an efficient and convenient technique for pediatric lateral condyle distal humeral fractures. However, no single study has been large enough to definitively determine whether the K-wires should be buried or unburied. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis pooling the results from several clinical trials to compare the outcome of using buried versus unburied K-wires. Potential academic articles were identified from the Cochrane Library, Medline (1966–2017.3), PubMed (1966–2017.3), Embase (1980–2017.3), ScienceDirect (1985–2017.3), and other databases. Gray studies were identified from the references of included literature reports. RevMan 5.1 was used to analyze the pooling of data. Nonrandomized controlled trials were included in this meta-analysis. There was a significant difference in the duration of wires in situ (MD = −13.28, 95% confidence interval: −16.42 to −10.14, P < .00001). No significant differences were found regarding infection, superficial infection, total complications, delayed union, or reoperation. Unburied K-wire fixation for treatment of lateral condyle distal humeral fractures in children does not increase the total infection rate, superficial infection, reoperation rate, or complications. However, unburied K-wire fixation is of benefit for early extraction and impartial cost savings.