Seventy-eight supracondylar fractures of the humerus in children were
reviewed to compare four kinds of treatment: closed reduction and
immobilization in a cast or splint, overhead skeletal traction, side-arm
skeletal traction, and Dunlop's skin traction. The skeletal traction device
usually used was a winged screw of our own design. The arms treated in
overhead traction had significantly less change in carrying angle than
those treated in side-arm traction. Significant changes in carrying angle
were encountered in three instances of medially impacted so-called
non-displaced fractures. There were two instances of significant
carrying-angle change due to overgrowth of the lateral aspect of the distal
part of the humerus. Overhead traction, utilizing a winged traction screw,
was the most effective method of treatment that we found. There were no
instances of Volkmann's ischemic contracture.