Supra and intercondylar elbow fractures in children

Supra- and intercondylar elbow fractures are rare in children. The treatment of these fractures is controversial. The purpose of this report is to discuss diagnosis and treatment of this unusual injury. Our study looked at time patients between six and 15 years old (average age: 11.5). In four patients, the fracture was T-condylar and in five patients, the fracture was epiphyseal-diaphyseal. Communition was noted in five cases. All fractures are secondary to high-energy trauma. All patients were treated by open reduction and internal fixation. Three patients had associated nervous lesions. Patients were reviewed at an average of 30 months follow-up and the results evaluated according to the criteria of Flynn. The results were good or excellent in six patients, fair in two patients and poor in one. Cubitus varus and limitation of elbow motion were the main complication. Supra- and intercondylar elbow fractures should be differentiated from the more common supracondylar humerus fractures. We recommended open reduction with internal fixation. Complications are due to the severity of the initial trauma and sometimes to defective treatment especially in the case of complex fracture. (C) 2009 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.