Objectives: To investigate the association of obesity with fracture characteristics and outcomes of operatively treated pediatric supracondylar humerus fractures.
Design: Retrospective multicenter.
Setting: Two Level I pediatric hospitals.
Patients: Patients (age <18 years) with operatively treated Gartland type III and type IV fractures 2010-2014.
Intervention: Closed or open reduction and percutaneous pinning of supracondylar humerus fractures.
Main outcome measure: Incidence of Gartland IV fracture, preoperative nerve palsy, open reduction and complication rates.
Results: Patients in the obese group had a significantly higher likelihood of having a Gartland IV fracture (not obese: 17%; obese: 35%; P = 0.007). There was a significantly higher incidence of nerve palsy on presentation in the obese group (not obese: 20%; obese: 33%; P = 0.03). No significant differences were found between groups regarding incidence of open reduction, compartment syndrome, and rates of reoperation.
Conclusions: The present study demonstrates that obese children with a completely displaced supracondylar humerus fractures have an increased risk of Gartland type IV and preoperative nerve palsy compared with normal weight children.
Level of evidence: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
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