Open Reduction Criteria

The work group recognizes that a percentage of pediatric supracondylar fractures of the humerus cannot be reduced using a closed technique.  Fracture pattern, soft-tissue interposition, patient characteristics, and surgeon experience may contribute individually or in combination.  In these more challenging cases the surgeon may need to perform an open reduction.  The studies included in the guideline only provide limited support this recommendation.           

Data on 28 outcomes from 8 studies were analyzed. Significant flaws in study design limited the strength of all the studies. The critical outcomes studied were cubitus varus, hyperextension, loss of reduction, malunion, pain, and elbow stiffness. Statistically significant data was found for only two of these outcomes. Aktekin, et al. report stiffness was greater in the patients treated with open reduction compared to patients treated with a closed reduction and pinning. Li, et al. reported that the fractures treated open had a lower incidence of loss of reduction compared to displaced fractures that could be managed successfully with closed reduction and pinning. Sibly, et al. found no statistically significant difference between groups for cubitus varus or elbow stiffness.

These non-randomized retrospective studies are prone to selection bias.  More severe injuries may have been selected for open reduction, potentially confounding the comparative data. We could not determine if adverse outcomes in the open reduction group were due to the severity of injury or to the intervention. Furthermore, the literature lacks clear definitions for an acceptable reduction.