Management of supracondylar fractures of the humerus by a conservative method in a District Hospital

Abstract

The treatment of supracondylar fractures can be by open operative manipulation and fixation or by closed manipulation alone. This is a follow up study of supracondylar fractures of the humerus treated by closed means at St. Francis Hospital in Katete. The follow-up is of 35v patients who were treated between 1992 and 1994. Around 61 villages were visited. Patients were evaluated and the functions of both limbs were recorded. The uninjured elbow then acted as a control and the two limbs were compared. Of the 35 patients followed up 32 had excellent results, which is a 91.4% success rate. The project results were very encouraging and support the concept of treating these fractures conservatively.