Is a radiograph needed one week after internal fixation of a supracondylar humeral fracture?

We examined patient and fracture characteristics and postoperative complications. LOR was defined as a change of 5° or more in measurement of Bauman’s angle or the lateral capitellohumeral angle. After applying exclusion criteria, the study group consisted of 131 patients; 87 (66.4%) were male; the left limb was involved in 76 patients (58%); 98 were classified as Gartland type 3 (74.8%); 118 patients had extension type fractures (90%); complications included nerve injury in 32 patients (24.4%), mostly involving the ulnar nerve (17, 13%). Pin-tract infection occurred in four patients (3%). LOR was found in five patients (3.8%). In all these patients, there was evidence of inadequate fixation in the intraoperative radiographs. When adequate fixation is obtained intraoperatively, the next follow-up radiograph is recommended after 3 weeks, at the time of pin removal.
Source: Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics B - Category: Orthopaedics Tags: Trauma Source Type: research