What is capitellum fracture?
Fracture of the capitellum is an intra-articular fracture of the elbow, analogous to the Hoffa fracture of the knee. It is a rare fracture which represents an injury to the lateral column of the distal humerus. The mechanism of injury is usually an axial loading through the radial head [3].
What is capitellum?
The capitellum, also referred to as the capitulum, is the lateral part of the humeral condyle that articulates with the radial head.
Where is the capitellum bone?
In human anatomy of the arm, the capitulum of the humerus is a smooth, rounded eminence on the lateral portion of the distal articular surface of the humerus. It articulates with the cupshaped depression on the head of the radius, and is limited to the front and lower part of the bone.
Is the capitellum cartilage?
There are two cartilage-covered parts of the end on the humerus: The trochlea on the inside of the elbow. The capitellum on the outside of the elbow.
Is the capitulum anterior or posterior?
Immediately lateral to the trochlea is the capitulum (“small head”), a knob-like structure located on the anterior surface of the distal humerus. The capitulum articulates with the radius bone of the forearm.
Is epicondyle a bone?
The elbow joint is made up of the bone in the upper arm (the humerus) and one of the bones in the lower arm (ulna). The bony prominences, or bumps, at the bottom of the humerus are called the epicondyles. The bump on the outer side of the elbow is called the lateral epicondyle.
Where is the Capitellum bone?
What articulates with the capitulum?
The capitulum laterally articulates with the radius; the trochlea, a spool-shaped surface, articulates with the ulna.
What is a epicondyle bone?
Epicondyle – A prominence that sits atop of a condyle. The epicondyle attaches muscle and connective tissue to bone, providing support to this musculoskeletal system. Examples include the femoral medial and lateral epicondyles and humeral medial and lateral epicondyles.
What kind of surgery is needed for a capitellum fracture?
Capitellum Fractures are traumatic intra-articular elbow injuries involving the distal humerus at the capitellum. Diagnosis is made using plain radiographs of the elbow. Treatment may be nonoperative for nondisplaced fractures but any displacement generally requires anatomic open reduction and internal fixation.
How often are capitellar fractures associated with humerus fractures?
Capitellar fractures are uncommon, accounting for less than 1% of all elbow fractures and 6% of all distal humerus fractures. 4 They often are associated with radial head fractures and posterior elbow dislocations. A classification system for capitellar fractures has been proposed by Bryan and Morrey 4 and modified by McKee:
Can a capitellum fracture occur in a child?
Capitellar fractures occur almost exclusively in adults. These fractures do not occur in children because in that age group, the capitellum is largely cartilaginous, and a similar mechanism of injury would instead cause a supracondylar or lateral condyle fracture.
How does a capitellum fracture affect the elbow?
direct, axial compression with the elbow in a semi-flexed position creates shear forces. pathoanatomy radiocapitellar joint is an important static stabilizer of the elbow. capitellar fracture can cause potential block to motion and instability due to loss of the radiocapitellar articulation.