AbstractIntroduction: Supracondylar fracture of humerus is most common of all the fractures around the elbow in children. They occur most commonly during the childhood in male child with the peak around 5-8 years. The neurovascular injuries are more common in this fracture type. Aim and
Objective:To study the incidence and outcome of nerve injuries in supracondylar fracture of humerus. Materials and methods: A4 yearretrospective analysis was done among children with supracondylar
fracture of humerus for nerve injuries. All the nerve injuries were documented and categorized. The type of fracture and the treatment given for the children with nerve palsy were recorded and analyzed. The follow up of the children were analyzed to know the complete/partial recovery of the nerve. Results: Out of 22 children,8 children had traumatic, 1 unknown and 13 had iatrogenic nerve palsies in this study. The incidence rate of nerve palsy in our study was 13.92%. Radial, ulnar and median nerve palsy were seen in 7, 11 and 2 children. 2 patients who had open fracture developed both median and radial nerve palsy. The average nerve recovery rate for median, ulnar and radial nerve were3.25, 3.63 and 3.7 months. Conclusion: The chances of nerve palsy should be kept in mind in the treatment of supracondylar fracture and proper counselling should be given pre-operatively. Ulnar nerve was most commonly injured and median nerve was most early to recover in our study.
Keywords: Supracondylar Humerus fractures; Elbow; Kirschner Wires; Ulnar nerve; Median nerve; Radial nerve.