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Topic:

Supracondylar Humerus Fracture

Issue:

Elbow

Category:

Trauma

Title:

In Supracondylar Humerus Fractures With Nerve Injury, Does Time to Surgery Impact Recovery?

Author:

Wahlig, Brian D. MD; Sullivan, Mikaela H. MD; Broida, Samuel E. MD; Larson, A. Noelle MD; Shaughnessy, William J. MD; Stans, Anthony A. MD; Grigoriou, Emmanouil MD; Milbrandt, Todd A. MD

Journal:

Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics

Date:

November/December 2024

Reference:

44(10): p e871-e875, DOI: 10.1097/BPO.0000000000002793

Level Of Evidence:

III

# of Patients:

64

Study Type:

Retrospective review

Location:

Single level 1 pediatric trauma hospital, 1997-2022

Summary:

This study investigates whether the timing of surgery affects neurological recovery in pediatric supracondylar humerus fractures with nerve injury. It finds that earlier surgery was associated with faster partial recovery, but not full recovery, suggesting that prioritizing urgent surgery for these patients does not improve long-term outcomes.

Methods:

Retrospective review of patients with surgically managed supracondylar humerus fractures and concomitant neurological deficit, analyzing the relationship between surgery timing and nerve recovery.

Exclusions:

None stated explicitly in the abstract.

Results:

Earlier surgery was linked to earlier partial neurological recovery (P=0.02), but there was no significant relationship between surgery timing and full recovery (P=0.8).

Conclusions:

Urgent surgical intervention improves partial neurological recovery but does not affect full neurological recovery in children with supracondylar humerus fractures and nerve injuries.

Relevance:

Limitations:

Perspective:

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