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- Talk
- 21/09/2022
- UK
The Management of Gartland Type 1 Supracondylar Humeral Fractures During a Global Pandemic
Description
In this presentation, Chris Allan, a trainee from the West of Scotland region, discusses the management of Gartland Type 1 Supracondylar Humeral Fractures during the global pandemic. He begins by providing background information on these fractures, noting they are the most common elbow fractures in children and are categorized by the Gartland classification system. Type 1 fractures are described as undisplaced with intact anterior and posterior cortices, accompanied by an elevated fat pad on radiographs.
Allan explains the standard management prior to the pandemic, which involved placing young patients in an above-elbow back slab and scheduling a follow-up at a fracture clinic within a week. However, during the pandemic, to minimize face-to-face consultations, the protocol was adjusted: patients were instead placed in either a collar and cuff or back slab based on pain levels and were instructed to remove the braces at three weeks post-injury with no scheduled follow-up appointments.
The aim of the study was to assess adherence to the modified management plan and to evaluate outcomes compared to pre-pandemic practices. Allan presents collected data from both 2019 and 2020, revealing a reduction in patient reviews without adverse outcomes—indicating the modified strategy was effective in reducing unnecessary consultations without compromising patient safety. He discusses adherence rates and the follow-up differences between both years, highlighting significant drops in face-to-face consultations during the pandemic.
Allan concludes that the revised management guidelines effectively reduced the need for in-person consultations without negative impacts on patient outcomes and suggests that this practice be continued beyond the pandemic given the evidence that follow-up does not alter the management of type one fractures. The presentation is followed by a Q&A session, where audience members raise questions about potential issues with patient management and the need for further studies to solidify findings.