Immobilisation in a collar and cuff with high elbow flexion is a safe and effective treatment option to reduce and immobilise Gartland type II supracondylar fractures.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to report the proportion of children requiring subsequent surgical intervention, rate of complications and radiologic outcomes following collar and cuff immobilisation with high elbow flexion (>90°) for Gartland type II supracondylar fractures. METHODS: A retrospective case series of consecutive patients aged <18 years with Gartland type II fractures treated at a level 1 trauma centre from December 2020 to April 2023 was conducted. The need for surgical intervention and complications were recorded from electronic clinical notes. The initial, post-immobilisation and final Baumann's angle and lateral humeral-capitellar angle (LHCA) were measured and compared. RESULTS: In total, 42 patients were included in this study. Thirty-four were treated definitively in a collar and cuff with a mean elbow flexion of 109.4°. Two patients underwent closed reduction and Kirschner wire fixation. No patient required subsequent corrective osteotomy. There were no cases of recorded complications. Immobilisation in a collar and cuff with >90° elbow flexion was associated with a significant improvement in the mean LHCA (initial 80.9° vs final 65.6°, p < 0.001). There was no significant change in the LHCA post immobilisation in a collar and cuff until final radiographic follow-up (post immobilisation 68.3° vs final 65.6°, p=0.274). CONCLUSIONS: Immobilisation in a collar and cuff with high elbow flexion is a safe and effective nonoperative treatment method to reduce and immobilise Gartland type II supracondylar fractures. Surgical treatment could be reserved for cases with unsatisfactory alignment or early loss of reduction following attempted nonoperative treatment.

High-energy open tibial fractures in children: treatment with a programmable circular external fixator.

Between 2005 and 2010 ten consecutive children with high-energy open diaphyseal tibial fractures were treated by early reduction and application of a programmable circular external fixator. They were all male with a mean age of 11.5 years (5.2 to 15.4), and they were followed for a mean of 34.5 months (6 to 77). Full weight-bearing was allowed immediately post-operatively. The mean time from application to removal of the frame was 16 weeks (12 to 21). The mean deformity following removal of the frame was 0.15° (0° to 1.5°) of coronal angulation, 0.2° (0° to 2°) sagittal angulation, 1.1 mm (0 to 10) coronal translation, and 0.5 mm (0 to 2) sagittal translation. All patients achieved consolidated bony union and satisfactory wound healing. There were no cases of delayed or nonunion, compartment syndrome or neurovascular injury. Four patients had a mild superficial pin site infection; all settled with a single course of oral antibiotics. No patient had a deep infection or re-fracture following removal of the frame. The time to union was comparable with, or better than, other published methods of stabilisation for these injuries. The stable fixator configuration not only facilitates management of the accompanying soft-tissue injury but enables anatomical post-injury alignment, which is important in view of the limited remodelling potential of the tibia in children aged > ten years. Where appropriate expertise exists, we recommend this technique for the management of high-energy open tibial fractures in children.