Classification of Pediatric Supracondylar Fractures: Comparison between the Gartland and the Lagrange & Rigault Classifications

Abstract

Background The supracondylar fracture of the humerus is one of the most common fractures in pediatric age. Many classifications were proposed, with Gartland being the most widely used one and Lagrange and Rigault (L&R) the most used in French-speaking countries.

Objectives The goal of this study was to compare the Wilkins-modified Gartland classification with the L&R classification in terms of reproducibility.

Methods Three observers with similar training levels classified 35 fractures according to both classifications twice to evaluate both intra and interobserver variation.

Results The mean intraobserver variation was 0.78 and 0.77 for Gartland and L&R classifications, respectively, and the mean interobserver variation was 0.55 and 0.62 for Gartland and L&R classifications, respectively.

Conclusions Both classifications reveal adequate to usage in clinical and investigational practices, which is consistent with the literature.

Resumen

Introducción: La fractura supracondílea del húmero es una de las fracturas más comunes en la edad pediátrica. Varias clasificaciones han sido propuestas, siendo la de Gartland la usada de forma mas amplia y la de Lagrange and Rigault (L&R) la más usada en países de habla francesa.

Objetivo: Comparar la clasificación de Gartland modificada por Wilkins con la clasificación de L&R en términos de reproducibilidad.

Material y Método: tres observadores, con el mismo nivel de entrenamiento, clasificaron 35 fracturas de acuerdo a las dos clasificaciones en dos ocasiones para evaluar tanto la variación intra como inter observador.

Resultados: La variabilidad media intraobservador fue de 0.78 y 0,77 para la de Gartland y L&R respectivamente. La variabilidad media interobservador fue 0.66 y 0.62 para la de Gartland y L&R respectivamente.

Conclusiones: Las dos clasificaciones son adecuadas para el uso en la práctica clínica e investigación, lo que es consistente con la litertura.

Keywords

humeral fractures - classification

Palabras clave

fractura de húmero - clasificaciones

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