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Complex Supracondylar Fracture |
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Click on images to view larger radiographs and clinical pictures.
Introduction
This 11 year old boy was playing on the
jungle gym when he fell off onto his outstretched left
hand. He sustained a closed, isolated injury to the left
elbow, and is neurovascularly intact:
Left Elbow Radiographs
Describe the injury in the radiographs
above.
What are the long term complications of
this injury ?
How would you treat this injury in the
Emergency Room ?
How would you treat this injury
definitively ?
Management
This injury is an intra-articular two-T
type supracondylar fracture of the left distal humerus.
There are six fragments. Extraarticular fracture
fragments include the proximal humerus, lateral epicondyle,
medial epicondyle (the latter two are minimally
displaced). Intraarticular fracture fragments include a
capitellar, trochlear, and medial condylar fragment, all of
which are minimally displaced.
Because of the minimal displacement, a
closed reduction and pinning was attempted and found to be
successful. A pin was placed across the five distal
fragments, and then this large articular fragment was fixed to
the distal humerus via crossed K-wires.
Immediate Postop Radiographs:
Three Week Postop Radiographs:
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