Paediatric lateral humeral condylar fracture outcomes at twelve years follow-up as compared with age and sex matched paired controls.

INTRODUCTION: Lateral humeral condylar fractures are the second most common elbow fractures in children. We present the long-term clinical and radiographic results.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: All children (<16 years) in the geographic catchment area with lateral condylar fracture were asked to participate and 32 (76.2%) patients enrolled. Clinical and functional results are compared with randomly selected but age and sex matched normal controls at 12.4 years (range 10.6 to 16.0).

RESULTS: Unsatisfactory clinical outcomes were found in 40.6% of the fracture cases vs. 6.3% controls (P = 0.003), according to Flynn's criteria. Flexion-extension range of motion was decreased >5° in 13 cases (40.6%) and in four controls (12.5%, P = 0.013). One in four (N = 8, 25%) of the cases showed cubitus varus >5° and 15.7% (N = 5) had cubitus valgus >5°, compared to one cubitus valgus (3.1%) in controls (P = 0.002).

CONCLUSION: The majority of the adolescent and young adult patients (59.4%) with a previous paediatric lateral humeral condylar fracture had recovered well and showed good or excellent overall outcomes according to Flynn's criteria for elbow assessment after a mean of 12.4 years post-injury. Long-term sequelae was unchanged regardless of treatment.