Comparison of Kirschner wires and headless fully threaded cannulated screws in treatment of Jacob Ⅲ lateral humeral condyle fracture in children

YAO Jiaqi, DU Yingjie, ZHOU Huixia, LI Wenchao

Medical Journal of the Chinese People Armed Police Forces ›› 2025, Vol. 36 ›› Issue (3) : 239-242.

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Medical Journal of the Chinese People Armed Police Forces ›› 2025, Vol. 36 ›› Issue (3) : 239-242.
ORIGINAL ARTICLES

Comparison of Kirschner wires and headless fully threaded cannulated screws in treatment of Jacob Ⅲ lateral humeral condyle fracture in children

  • YAO Jiaqi1, DU Yingjie1, ZHOU Huixia2, LI Wenchao2
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Abstract

Objective To compare the efficacy of K-wire and headless fully threaded cannulated screws in the treatment of Jacob Ⅲ lateral humeral condyle fracture. Methods A total of 34 patients with lateral condyle humerus fractures who were treated in the Pediatric Orthopedics Department of the Seventh Medical Center of PLA General Hospital from January 2017 to December 2023 were selected. All patients underwent open reduction, with 18 cases fixed with Kirschner wires(K-wire group) and 16 cases fixed with headless fully threaded cannulated screws(screw group). The postoperative fracture healing and complications were compared between the two groups, and the postoperative elbow joint function was evaluated by Mayo scoring system. Results Both groups achieved good bone healing, with no statistically significant difference in elbow joint function scores. In terms of postoperative complications, 12 cases in the K-wire group had lateral protrusion of the elbow joint, while 4 cases in the screw group, with statistically significant difference between the two groups (P=0.037). The K-wire group had 5 cases of skin infection and 7 cases of loosening of Kirschner wires, whereas the screw group had one case of skin infection and no loosening observed. Four cases in the K-wire group had elbow extension less than <10°, while three cases occurred in the screw group, with no statistically significant difference. Conclusions Kirschner wire and headless fully threaded hollow screws are both effective in treating Jacob III lateral humeral condyle fracture, showing good clinical outcomes. Headless hollow screws can promote fracture healing and elbow joint function recovery through stable fracture fixation, and reduce the probability of lateral elbow protrusion.

Key words

lateral humeral condyle fracture / surgery / open reduction / Kirschner wire / cannulated screw

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YAO Jiaqi, DU Yingjie, ZHOU Huixia, LI Wenchao. Comparison of Kirschner wires and headless fully threaded cannulated screws in treatment of Jacob Ⅲ lateral humeral condyle fracture in children[J]. Medical Journal of the Chinese People Armed Police Forces. 2025, 36(3): 239-242

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