What is a supracondylar fracture of the humerus?
Your child’s humerus is fractured (broken) near the elbow area, just above the joint. This is called a supracondylar (supra CON dy ler) humerus fracture. It is the most common type of elbow fracture and happens most often to children younger than 8 years old.
How does a supracondylar fracture of the humerus occur?
Overview. A supracondylar fracture is an injury to the humerus, or upper arm bone, at its narrowest point, just above the elbow. Supracondylar fractures are the most common type of upper arm injury in children. They are frequently caused by a fall on an outstretched elbow or a direct blow to the elbow.
Which nerve is affected in supracondylar fracture?
The injury pattern in the 196 affected nerves showed that the most commonly affected nerve was the ulnar nerve (43.4%), followed by the median (36.7%) and radial (19.9%) nerves.
How do you fix a supracondylar fracture?
A supracondylar fracture is typically treated by putting a splint or cast around your elbow and then using a sling to keep it in position. Other treatments include ice and medications to relieve pain and swelling. Surgical or nonsurgical.
Does a supracondylar fracture need a cast?
A supracondylar elbow fracture will require cast and sling while the fracture heals.
What is a Type 2 supracondylar humerus fracture?
Type 2 – angulation present but a posterior bony hinge remains intact. Type 3 – complete displacement with no bony hinge. Periosteum is usually intact. Type 4 – a controversial category describing a fracture that is unstable in flexion and extension, implying a lack of intact periosteum.
What type of fracture is the Supracondylar?
Supracondylar fractures are initially divided into two types, depending on the direction of displacement of the distal fragment: Flexion-type (rare) – distal fragment is displaced anteriorly. Extension-type (98%) – distal fragment is displaced posteriorly.
Which nerve is most likely to be injured in a supracondylar humerus fracture?
The most commonly injured nerve was the ulnar nerve (43.4%), followed by the median (36.7%) and radial nerves (19.9%).
How common are supracondylar humerus fractures?
Supracondylar fracture of the humerus is one of the most talked about and often encountered injury (only after clavicle and both bone forearm fracture) in pediatric age group with a male predominance accounting for 16% of all pediatric fractures and 60% of all pediatric elbow fractures, classically occurring as a …
Which are the structures may damage in case of supracondylar fracture of humerus?
The supracondylar area undergoes remodeling at the age of 6 to 7, making this area thin and prone to fractures. Important arteries and nerves (median nerve, radial nerve, brachial artery, and ulnar nerve) are located at the supracondylar area and can give rise to complications if these structures are injured.
How are supracondylar fractures of the humerus classified?
The Gartland classification of supracondylar fractures of the humerus is based on the degree and direction of displacement, and the presence of intact cortex. It applies to extension supracondylar fractures rather than the rare flexion supracondylar fracture.
How old do you have to be to have a supracondylar fracture?
Simple supracondylar fractures are typically seen in younger children, and are uncommon in adults; 90% are seen in children younger than 10 years of age, with a peak age of 5-7 years 4,6. These fractures are more commonly seen in boys 4 and are the most common elbow fractures in children (55-80%) 8.
Where is the humerus located in the arm?
The humerus is the long bone of the upper arm. A supracondylar fracture is a break to the lower part of this bone, close to the elbow. It is one of the most common fractures we see, especially in younger children. This injury occurs most often with what we call a FOOSH (fall onto
Is there a closed treatment for humeral fractures?
The technique follows the rules that were published in Charnley’s textbook “The closed treatment of common fractures”, in turn based on the original Blount method, published in 1954 in his “Fractures in Children”. If this technique is applied correctly, the majority (> 95%) of supracondylar humeral fractures can be reduced.