THE EFFECTIVENESS OF CLOSED REDUCTION OF SUPRACONDYLAR FRACTURE OF THE HUMERUS WITH NEUROVASCULAR INJURY IN TERMS OF THE NEED FOR EXPLORATION IN CHILDREN

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of reduction of supracondylar fracture of the humerus with neurovascular injury and the role of exploration. Material and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Orthopedic Khyber Teaching Hospital Peshawar from July 2020 till July 2021 and children with supracondylar (Gartland type II and III) fracture of the humerus were included irrespective of neurovascular complication. Data were analyzed using SPSS. Mean and standard deviation was used for quantitative data. Frequency and percentages were used for qualitative data. Shapiro Wilk’s test was done to find the normality of the data. Results: Mean age of the 65 children with Gartland type 3 closed extension type supracondylar fractures was 7 years ± 1.5 years. The female to male ratio was 1:2.2. The right side was involved in 28 (43%) left sides in 37(57%) patients. The mechanism of injury in all cases was a history of fall. At presentation 40 patients (61%) had no signs of neurovascular involvement while 25 patients (38%) had signs and symptoms of various nerve injuries, 11 of anterior interosseous nerve injury, 8 median nerve, and 6 radial nerve injuries, and no ulnar nerve injury while 6 patients had absent radial pulse with well perfused, pink hands Conclusion: Thus we conclude that in most of the cases there is no need for exploration of vessel and nerve in supracondylar fracture with neurovascular injury if the fracture is reduced properly.