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Letters to the Editor to:

Surgical Techniques:
Yi-Meng Yen and Mininder S. Kocher
Lateral Entry Compared with Medial and Lateral Entry Pin Fixation for Completely Displaced Supracondylar Humeral Fractures in Children. Surgical Technique
J Bone Joint Surg Am 2008; 90: 20-30 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF]
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Electronic letters published:

[Read Letter to the Editor] Clarification of Figure 7
Mininder S. Kocher, M.D., MPH, Yi-Meng Yen, M.D., Ph.D.   (22 April 2008)
[Read Letter to the Editor] Definition of Baumann's Angle
Asheem Naraen   (22 April 2008)

Clarification of Figure 7 22 April 2008
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Mininder S. Kocher, M.D., MPH
Children's Hospital, Boston, MA,
Yi-Meng Yen, M.D., Ph.D.

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Re: Clarification of Figure 7

mininder.kocher{at}childrens.harvard.edu Mininder S. Kocher, M.D., MPH, et al.

The drawing is correct and the caption is incorrect. We appreciate Dr. Naraen’s observation that Baumann described this angle as the long axis of the humerus and the inclination of capitellar physis. This can be also termed the “shaft-physeal” angle. There have been some reports of Baumann’s angle as the angle formed by the line perpendicular to the humeral shaft and parallel to the lateral condyle, but this should technically be termed as the complement of Baumann’s angle. We thank Dr. Naraen for clarifying this.
Definition of Baumann's Angle 22 April 2008
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Asheem Naraen
Department of Orthopaedics & Trauma, Harrogate Fdn & District Hospital NHS Trust, UK

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Re: Definition of Baumann's Angle

anaraen{at}hotmail.com Asheem Naraen

To The Editor:

With reference to the very well written and useful article "Lateral Entry Compared To Medial And Lateral Entry For Completely Displaced Supracondylar Fractures In Children"(1) may I ask the authors why they have designated Baumann's angle as the angle between the longitudinal axis of humerus and a line parallel to the growth plate of the lateral condyle, and yet have described in the caption as the angle formed by the line perpendicular to the humeral shaft and the line parallel to the lateral condyle in Figure 7(2)?

The author did not receive any outside funding or grants in support of his research for or preparation of this work. Neither he nor a member of his immediate family received payments or other benefits or a commitment or agreement to provide such benefits from a commercial entity. No commercial entity paid or directed, or agreed to pay or direct, any benefits to any research fund, foundation, division, center, clinical practice, or other charitable or nonprofit organization with which the author, or a member of his immediate family, is affiliated or associated.

References:

1. Yen YM, Kocher MS. Lateral entry compared with medial and lateral entry pin fixation for completely displaced supracondylar humeral fractures in children. Surgical Technique. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2008;90A(Suppl 2) Part 1:20-30.

2. Yen YM, Kocher MS. Lateral entry compared with medial and lateral entry pin fixation for completely displaced supracondylar humeral fractures in children. Surgical Technique. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2008;90A(Suppl 2) Part 1. Fig. 7, page 29.