Incidence, treatment techniques, and results of distal humeral coronal shear fractures in children and adolescents—a multicenter study of the German Section of Pediatric Traumatology (SKT)

Purpose Distal humeral coronal shear fractures (CSF) are uncommon and may be challenging to treat due to their size, location, and intraarticular nature. The purpose of this study was to analyze treatment concepts of this rare entity in the growing age. Methods Based on a multi-center data analysis we retrospectively reviewed patients below 16 years of age with CSF treated at 13 high-volume pediatric trauma centers. Results Data from 51 patients with a CSF treated between 01/2012 and 12/2021 were analyzed. The mean age was 12.9 years (10–15), and there was a trend towards male patients (30: 21). The initial diagnostic approach was conventional X-ray in all cases. In addition, a CT scan ( n = 33), MRI scan ( n = 9), or both ( n = 3) were performed. All fractures except two showed relevant displacement. Consequently, only two cases received conservative treatment consisting of plaster immobilization. Surgical treatment was performed in 49 cases consisting of open or mini-open reduction and metal/resorbable screw osteosynthesis ( n = 39), plates ( n = 4), K-wire pinning ( n = 6), and others ( n = 6), as well as combinations. In 1 case open reduction without osteosynthesis was performed. Postoperative additional plaster immobilization was performed in 40 cases (for a mean of 19 days (2–42)), physiotherapy was initiated in 29 cases, and metal removal was performed in 28 cases (after a mean of 18.1 weeks (4–44)). After a mean follow-up of 9.9 months (2–25), elbow axial deviation (5° valgus) was observed in one case and mild loss of elbow ROM in six cases (11.7%). Complications included revision of the osteosynthesis because of insufficient articular reconstruction ( n = 4), removal of a free joint body ( n = 1), an osteonecrosis ( n = 1), and a cartilage defect ( n = 1). Conclusion In pediatric patients CSFs start to occur at the age of 10, but are typically observed at the age of 13 and older. Because of their intraarticular nature and predilection toward displacement, these fractures are frequently treated operatively. The surgical strategy requires open reduction and anatomic reconstruction of the articular surface. Stable internal fixation, most often achieved by screws, permits early mobilization and leads to good outcomes in most cases. This is presumably due to the fact that mostly simple fractures occur in children and mostly complex injuries in older adults. Level of evidence : III, retrospective analysis.