PEDIATRIC LATERAL HUMERAL CONDYLE FRACTURES

Course overview

LATERAL HUMERAL CONDYLE FRACTURES ARE THE SECOND MOST COMMONLY ENCOUNTERED ELBOW FRACTURES AFTER SUPRACONDYLAR FRACTURES IN THE PEDIATRIC AGE GROUP. THESE FRACTURES ARE PECULIAR AS THEY ARE INTRA-ARTICULAR AND ARE PRONE TO DISPLACEMENT OWING TO THE ATTACHMENT OF THE FOREARM EXTENSOR MUSCLES ON THE LATERAL CONDYLE. DUE TO THIS, THEY CAN PRODUCE VARIOUS COMPLICATIONS, INCLUDING ELBOW DEFORMITY, IF NOT APPROPRIATELY MANAGED. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE INJURY MECHANISM, PRESENTATION, EVALUATION, MANAGEMENT, AND POST-OPERATIVE CARE OF PEDIATRIC LATERAL HUMERAL CONDYLE FRACTURES. IT HIGHLIGHTS THE COMMON ASSOCIATED INJURIES, ASSESSMENT PITFALLS, AND RELATED COMPLICATIONS OF BOTH OPERATIVE AND NON-OPERATIVE CARE TO IMPROVE CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH THIS CONDITION.