Distal Humeral Coronal Shear Fractures in Children and Adolescents: Need for Cross-Sectional Imaging and a Revised Classification

Abstract

Background

The classification of fractures is necessary to ensure a reliable means of communication for clinical interaction, research, and education. Distal humeral coronal plane shear fractures (CSFs) are very rare in the growing-age population, despite that multiple classification schemes exist.

Objective

The aim of this study was to assess the inter- and intrarater reliability of the four most commonly used CSF classifications and their role in guiding treatment decisions in everyday clinical practice.

Materials and methods

Fifty-one patients with CSFs were retrospectively analyzed in a multicenter study. Of these, X-rays in two planes of 20 randomly selected CSFs were given to eight independent raters for classification according to Dubberley, Bryan and Morgan, Murthy, and AO. Cohen's kappa statistic was used to assess interrater agreement and intrarater consistency. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) estimates and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Reliability values were classified as excellent (ICC ≥0.8), substantial (ICC 0.61–0.80), moderate (ICC 0.41–0.6), fair (ICC 0.2–0.4), slight (ICC 0.00–0.2), and poor (ICC <0.00).

Results

All patients received x-rays in two planes initially. Cross-sectional imaging was added in 76.5% of cases (CT 58.8%, MRI 11.7%, both 5.9%). Interrater reliabilities were classified as fair for Dubberley (ICC 0.354; 95% CI 0.198, 0.573) and Bryan and Morgan (ICC 0.357; 95% CI 0.200, 0.576), slight for AO (ICC 0.226; 95% CI 0.100, 0.434), and poor for Murthy (ICC −0.012; 95% CI −0.063, 0.102). The Dubberley subtype showed slight agreement at lower ICC values (ICC 0.024, 95% CI −0.041, 0.161). The intrarater agreement was moderate to substantial for most of the eight raters and did not differ between the four classification systems. The rate of surgical treatment was 49/51 patients.

Conclusion

The most commonly used classification schemes for CSFs failed to achieve a substantial agreement among the raters. This is probably because the fracture patterns of CSF in adolescence and high adulthood differ significantly. An adaptation of the classification for pediatric and adolescent patients is necessary, but only for scientific purposes. Classification is not necessary for the clinical management of patients, as virtually all patients require surgical treatment.

Keywords

pediatric trauma - fracture classification - distal humeral fractures - rater reliability - X-ray

Publication History

Received: 29 March 2024

Accepted: 09 February 2025

Accepted Manuscript online:
11 February 2025

Article published online:
21 March 2025

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