Treatment of type III supracondylar humerus fractures: adherence and limitations of American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons Appropriate Use Criteria App.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-1-2021
Identifier
DOI: 10.1097/BPB.0000000000000768
Abstract
The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) published Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) in 2014 to aid physicians in the management of pediatric supracondylar humerus fractures. AUC should be evaluated in real practice, and if necessary modified based on identified problems. This study compares AAOS AUC recommendations with actual treatment performed in a cohort of patients treated for type III supracondylar humerus fractures. Medical record review of patients treated for type III supracondylar humerus fractures at our hospital from 2009 to 2016. Criteria required by the AAOS AUC were collected and entered into the AAOS AUC web-based application to determine the 'appropriateness' and score of each treatment. These were compared with the actual treatment the patient received. Over the study period, 585 patients (mean age: 6.5 years, 51% male, 49% female) were treated for type III supracondylar humerus fractures. Of the 585 cases, 561 (95.9%) were classified as 'appropriate', 24 (4.1%) as 'maybe appropriate', and 0 (0%) as 'rarely appropriate'. Of the 'maybe appropriate' cases there was a significant decrease in the proportion that deviated from the AUC over time (P = 0.0076). The main reasons for deviation were that an open reduction was performed due to difficulty with closed reduction (75% of deviations) or the surgery was not performed emergently (25% of deviations). The vague definition of 'emergent' and not allowing for open reduction if needed are limitations of the AUC that should be clarified or improved by the AAOS.
Journal Title
Journal of pediatric orthopaedics. Part B / European Paediatric Orthopaedic Society, Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America
Volume
30
Issue
2
First Page
161
Last Page
166
Recommended Citation
Emanuelli E, Stevanovic O, Klott J, Uvodich M, Sherman A, Schwend RM. Treatment of type III supracondylar humerus fractures: adherence and limitations of American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons Appropriate Use Criteria App. J Pediatr Orthop B. 2021;30(2):161-166. doi:10.1097/BPB.0000000000000768
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