2016 COA Annual Meeting: Management of displaced supracondylar fractures of the humerus using lateral versus cross k-wires: a prospective randomized trial

52 paediatric patients with a displaced supracondylar fracture of the humerus scheduled for K-wire fixation were randomized to either a lateral pin configuration or a crossed pin configuration. The purpose of this study to evaluate if lateral K-wire fixation offered non-inferior results regarding the loss of reduction when compared to crossed K-wire fixation. The quality of reduction was assessed using the change in Baumann's angle from immediately postoperatively to 3 weeks postoperative when pins were removed. The results demonstrated no significant difference between groups in the mean change in Baumann's angle during this period.