Assessment of Instant Loss of Elbow Flexion in Children with Untreated Gartland IIA Humeral Supracondylar Fractures—A Simulation Study with Lateral Elbow Radiographs

Objective The suitability of in situ cast fixation for treating Gartland IIA humeral supracondylar fractures has remained controversial due to concerns regarding loss of elbow flexion. This study aimed to assess the instant loss of elbow flexion after Gartland IIA humeral supracondylar fractures based on the relationship between the anterior marginal line of the humerus and capitellum in the lateral view. Methods This simulation study was conducted with normal radiographs using Adobe Photoshop 14.0, followed by verification using clinical cases. Standard lateral views of normal elbows of children were collected from January 2008 to February 2020. Adobe Photoshop was used to simulate Gartland IIA supracondylar fractures with different degrees of angulation in the sagittal plane. A formula was deduced to assess flexion loss, and this method was verified in three cases. The data were grouped by age, and the relationship between elbow flexion loss and age, as well as the angulation of the fracture, was analyzed using a one‐way or multivariate ANOVA. Results There was a flexion loss of 19° (11–30°) when the anterior margin line of the humerus was tangential to the capitellum. This loss increased with age at injury (r = 0.731, P = 0.000). Moreover, the difference in angulation in the sagittal plane also influenced the extent of elbow flexion loss (r = −0.739, P = 0.000). The more horizontal the fracture line in the lateral view, the greater the loss of elbow flexion. Conclusion Instant elbow flexion loss after Gartland IIA humeral supracondylar fractures increases with age at the time of injury and decreases with angulation in the sagittal plane. When the anterior margin of the humerus is tangential to the capitellum, there will be an average loss of 19° in elbow flexion. These findings provide a quantitative reference for clinical decision‐making in the treatment of Gartland IIA supracondylar fractures. Elbow flexion loss after Gartland IIA humeral supracondylar fractures is crucial to the decision‐making by both surgeons and parents. Based on a simulational method, this study found that there would be a flexion loss of 19° (11–30°) when the anterior margin line of the humerus went tangent to the capitellum. This loss would increase with age at injury and be influenced by the angulation of the fracture line in the sagittal plane.