• Neeraj Gupta, Robert M Kay, Kellie Leitch, J Dominic Femino, Vernon T Tolo, and David L Skaggs.
• Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90027, USA.
• J Pediatr Orthop. 2004 May 1; 24 (3): 245-8.

AbstractThis retrospective study examined whether a delay of greater than 12 hours is associated with an increased risk of perioperative complications in the operative treatment of supracondylar humerus fractures in children. Of 150 consecutive children with supracondylar fractures, 50 underwent surgery in less than 12 hours and 100 underwent surgery greater than 12 hours after injury. There was no significant difference between groups in rate of open reduction (P = 0.55), pin tract infection (P = 1.0), iatrogenic nerve injury (P = 1.0), vascular complication (P = 0.33), or compartment syndrome (P = 1.0), including when Gartland type III fractures were analyzed independently. There was no iatrogenic nerve injury, no compartment syndrome, and one pin tract infection in 150 patients. The study confirms previous retrospective studies finding no significant difference in perioperative complications or rate of open reduction in children undergoing early versus delayed surgical treatment of supracondylar humerus fractures.

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