Unicolumnar Pin Fixation of Type III Supracondylar Humeral Fractures Is Associated With Over 3 Times Higher Odds of Lost Reduction

Objectives: To compare the rate of lost reduction between 2 groups of non-age-segregated type III supracondylar humeral fracture patients: a unicolumnar versus bicolumnar fixation group. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: Pediatric Academic Trauma Center. Patients: We identified 257 patients with type III supracondylar humerus fractures from surgical billing records over a 5-year period. There were 183 patients identified with bicolumnar fixation (71.2%) and 74 patients identified with unicolumnar fixation (28.8%). Intervention: Closed reduction percutaneous pinning of the distal humerus. Main Outcome Measures: The primary outcome measure was difference in rate of lost reduction between patients with bicolumnar (lateral and medial column) and unicolumnar (lateral column only) fixation (Fig. 1). The reduction and fixation at the time of fluoroscopy was assessed using the Baumann angle, Gordon index, and anterior humeral line. Loss of reduction was assessed at time of healing, defined by a Baumann angle change >= 10 degrees and Gordon index of >= 50% (Fig. 2). Results: There were 183 patients with bicolumnar fixation and 74 patients with unicolumnar fixation included in the study (average age 5.8 years; range, 2-14 years). The rate of lost reduction in patients with bicolumnar fixation was 6.01% (11/183), whereas 17.57% (13/ 74) of patients with unicolumnar fixation experienced lost reduction. These rates were significantly different (P = 0.008) with a 3.3 times higher odds (95% confidence interval = 1.3-8.6) of lost reduction with unicolumnar fixation. Conclusions: There is a statistically significant increase in the rate of supracondylar fracture loss of reduction for patients with unicolumnar fixation when compared with bicolumnar fixation.