Internal Fixation With Kirschner Wire For Treating Proximal Humeral Fractures In Children

Objective To evaluate the use of internal fixation with kirschnerwire in the treatment of the proximal humeral fractures in children.Method Retrospective analysis of85cases with proximal humeralfractures,who were hospitalized in our department from January2005toDecember2011,all have made open reduction of the proximal fractures ofhumerus and internal fixation with kirschner wire,and protected byabduction brace after operation.Regularly followed up after operation isnecessary to observe fracture healing and the growth of humerus.Thepatients are asked to have early functional exercise of shooulder joint,andevaluate the function recovery.Result85cases were followed up.In general,patients were followedup for6months to24months,and the average follow-up time is about10months.And the healing time of fracture is about6-8weeks.All thefractures were heale,and Kirschner wires were pulled out approximately6-8weeks postoperatively.In the follow-up of patients,none of the casesexisted humeral head necrosis, nonunion, bone fracture displacement, and Kirschner wire sliding out or broken needle.According to the evaluationmethod of Constant-Murley:excellent(more than90) in74cases, good(80-89) in6cases, general (70-79) in5cases, poor (less than70) in0cases,and the excellent and good rate was94%.Conclusion There are many advantages of Kirschner wire fixationfor the treatment of proximal humeral fractures in children.It operateseasily and has good internal fixation.Besides,it does no damage toepiphysis and very little to the surrounding tissue(including nerve andblood vessels).So that patients can have early functional exercise ofshooulder joint, and adhesion of shoulder joint function after operation isreduced.Actually,this method can make patients avoid another operation.Ina few words,Kirschner wire fixation is a good method for the treatment ofproximal humeral fractures in children.