OBJECTIVETo explore the improvement of the method for the treatment of supracondylar fractures of humerus in order to prevent and decrease the occurrence of cubitus varus.

METHODSOne hundred and ninety-seven patients with supracondylar fractures of humerus included 167 males and 30 females with an average age of 8.7 years old ranging from 3 to 12 years. There were 179 cases of extention and 18 cases of flexion. Six cases were open fractures. Thirty-four patients of fractures underwent fixation by only plaster slab, 53 underwent manipulative reduction and fixation by plaster slab, 23 underwent traction reduction and fixation by plaster slab, 87 underwent surgical operation. Among the cases of operation, 29 cases adopted anterior-lateral incision of elbow and 85 adopted posterior-interior incision of elbow.

RESULTSAmong the 197 cases, 191 cases were followed up for 1 to 5 years with an average of 3.7 years. According to the correlated curative effect evaluation of supracondylar fractures of humerus, the results were excellent in 142 cases, good in 27, fair in 13, poor in 9. Cubitus varus occurred in 8 cases.

CONCLUSIONThe objective factors for the occurrence of elbow varus do exist. However, during the treatment of these fracture, if strict correction of the ulnar deviation and stability are maintained during the reduction, the rate of occurrence of elbow varus could made to decreased a minimum.