The effect of different internal fixation materials on Jakob type III lateral humeral condyle fractures in pediatric patients

Q: What was the purpose of this study?

To evaluate outcomes of different internal fixation materials for treating Jakob type III lateral humeral condyle fractures in children.

Q: How were patients grouped and which fixation materials were compared?

Fifty-one children were retrospectively reviewed and divided into three groups: Kirschner wires (Group A), metal hollow screws (Group B), and absorbable hollow screws (Group C).

Q: What were the key outcome differences among the fixation groups?

Comparable results were observed for several clinical measures, while significant differences appeared in hospital stay, operation time, implant removal time, and hospitalization/material costs.

Q: What conclusion did the study reach about absorbable screws?

Different materials produced comparable therapeutic effects, and absorbable screws offered the advantage of avoiding a second surgery for implant removal.

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by Connor

Background Humeral lateral condyle fractures are common pediatric elbow injuries, and Jakob type III is the most severe form. Although open reduction and internal fixation is standard, the optimal fixation method remains unsettled, and the benefit of absorbable internal fixation materials is still debated. This study retrospectively assessed outcomes of three fixation options in children with Jakob type III lateral humeral condyle fractures.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages8

Reading Time20 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Introduction

Wang et al. Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research (2026) 21:14 [https://doi.org/10.1186/s13018-025-06547-9](https://doi.org/10.1186/s13018-025-06547-9) Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research RESEARCH Open Access The effect of different internal fixation materials on Jakob type III lateral humeral condyle fractures in pediatric patients Xinfeng Wang 1, Liangfu Xie 1, Anning Xia 1, E. Bing 1, Shaoting Luo2, Guibing Fu 1 and Jiansheng Wang 1* Abstract Background Humeral lateral condyle fractures are common pediatric elbow injuries, with Jakob type III representing the most severe form. While open reduction and internal fixation is the standard treatment, consensus is lacking on the optimal fixation method. Inadequate fixation can lead to serious complications. The efficacy of absorbable internal fixation materials remains debated. This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of different internal fixation materials for treating these fractures in children. Methods A retrospective review was conducted on 51 children (39 male, 12 female; mean age 4.8 years) with Jakob type III fractures treated surgically between January 2020 and December 2023. Patients were divided into three groups based on fixation: Kirschner wires (Group A), metal hollow screws (Group B), and absorbable hollow screws (Group C) . Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results The average hospitalization was 3.8 ± 0.2 days, median operation time was 60 min, and mean follow-up was 25.2 ± 12.1 months. No significant differences were found among groups regarding gender, age, postoperative plaster fixation time, final carrying angle, elbow varus deformity, lateral condyle protrusion, Mayo elbow score, or satisfaction. However, significant differences existed in hospital stay, operation time, time to implant removal, total hospitalization costs, and material costs. Group B had a significantly longer hospital stay (mean 4.9 days) compared to Groups A and C (3 . 5 and 3.4 days) . Operative time was longest in Group A (mean 60 min vs. 45 and 47 min) . Implant removal time was significantly longer in Group B (median 93 days vs. 34 days in Group A) . Group B had the highest total hospitalization costs (mean $2623 . 0), while Group C had the highest material costs (mean $996 . 5) . Group A had the lowest costs in both categories. Conclusion Different internal fixation materials achieved comparable therapeutic effects for pediatric Jakob type III lateral condylar fractures. Absorbable screws provided the advantage of eliminating the need for a second surgery for removal. Keywords Pediatric patients, Lateral condylar fracture, Open reduction, Kirschner wire, Metal hollow screw, Absorbable hollow screw *Correspondence: Jiansheng Wang [wangjsh321@163.com](wangjsh321@163.com) 1Department of Pediatric Orthopedics, Shenzhen Children’s Hospital, No. 7019 Yitian Road, Futian District, Shenzhen 518000, Guangdong Province, People’s Republic of China 2Department of Pediatric Orthopedics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, People’s Republic of China © The Author(s) 2025. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit [http://creativecommons.org/l](http://cr

FAQs

What was the purpose of this study?

To evaluate outcomes of different internal fixation materials for treating Jakob type III lateral humeral condyle fractures in children.

How were patients grouped and which fixation materials were compared?

Fifty-one children were retrospectively reviewed and divided into three groups: Kirschner wires (Group A), metal hollow screws (Group B), and absorbable hollow screws (Group C).

What were the key outcome differences among the fixation groups?

Comparable results were observed for several clinical measures, while significant differences appeared in hospital stay, operation time, implant removal time, and hospitalization/material costs.

What conclusion did the study reach about absorbable screws?

Different materials produced comparable therapeutic effects, and absorbable screws offered the advantage of avoiding a second surgery for implant removal.

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by Connor