Comparative Study between K Wires and Screw Fixation in Management of Medial Humeral Epicondyle Fracture in Pediatrics and Adolescents

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy and post-operative outcomes of fixation using either cannulated screws or Kirschner wires (K-wires) in pediatric patients with medial epicondyle fractures. Patients and methodology: This research was a prospective clinical experiment conducted in the Orthopedic Surgery department at AL-HUSSIEN University Hospital involving 30 children with medial humeral epicondyle fractures. The subjects will be allocated into two groups: Group A, where the fracture will be stabilized using K-wires, and Group B, where the fragment will be secured using a cannulated screw. Outcome measures will be assessed and compared between the two studied groups. Results: Baseline demographic and historical data were comparable between Group A and Group B (p>0.05 for age, sex, side, and mode of trauma). Operation time was significantly higher among Group B participants (mean 59.8 ± 5.77 minutes) in comparison to Group A participants (mean 55 ± 3.12 minutes; p=0.008). There were no statistically significant discrepancies in complication rates between the groups as infection (p=0.283), delayed nerve palsy (p=0.309), misalignment (p=1.0), or delayed consolidation (p=0.309). Similarly, all components of the Mayo Elbow Performance Score, including range of motion, stability, activities of daily living, pain intensity, and global score, showed no significant statistical discrepancies between the two studied groups (P-value > 0.05 for all parameters, with global MEPS p=0.053). Conclusion: The two studied surgical techniques, K-wires and cannulated screws fixation in pediatric medial humeral epicondyle fractures, have almost the same outcome except for surgical operation time.