What is supracondylar fracture of humerus in children?
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.
Is supracondylar fracture an emergency?
Displaced supracondylar fractures have been traditionally treated as surgical emergencies due to the risk of neurovascular complications or the belief that open reduction instead of closed reduction will be needed if surgery is delayed.
How do you treat a supracondylar fracture?
Gartland type III, and flexion supracondylar fractures are treated with reduction and percutaneous K-wire fixation. Patients should be kept nil orally until a decision about the timing of surgery is made. For open fractures, tetanus immunisation status should be assessed.
What is an acceptable reduction for supracondylar humerus fractures in children?
Conclusion: In this prospective cohort of children with supracondylar humerus fractures treated by closed reduction and percutaneous wiring fixation, up to a displacement of 30% medial to 15% lateral in the AP plane and 33% anterior to 37% posterior in the sagit- tal plane, a Baumann’s angle between 59 and 83 degrees …
Why supracondylar fracture is more common in children?
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.
What is cubitus varus?
Cubitus varus (gunstock deformity) is a malalignment of the distal humerus that results in a change of carrying angle from the physiologic valgus alignment (5-15 degrees) of the arm and forearm to varus malalignment. Historically, it is a complication of supracondylar fractures with a frequency as high as 30%.
How is a supracondylar humerus fracture treated in a child?
Healing results in a mild gunstock deformity. Surgical treatment of this will most likely result in: (OBQ04.225) A 8-year-old boy has a cubitus varus deformity of his left elbow after a supracondylar humerus fracture was treated in a splint.
What happens when a child’s arm is broken?
Because a child’s arm bones are still growing, a fracture in the area where growth occurs near each end of a long bone (growth plate) can interfere with that bone’s growth. Osteoarthritis. Fractures that extend into a joint can cause arthritis there years later.
Where does A supracondylar humerus fracture take place?
Supracondylar humerus fracture. A supracondylar humerus fracture is a fracture of the distal humerus just above the elbow joint. The fracture is usually transverse or oblique and above the medial and lateral condyles and epicondyles.
How old is a 9 year old supracondylar fracture?
(OBQ11.228) A 9-year-old-female presents with her parents who have concerns regarding the appearance of her elbow (Figure A). Her past medical history is significant for a supracondylar fracture treated in a cast when as a younger child.
What causes supracondylar fractures of the humerus in children?
Dr. Ebraheim’s educational animated video describing supracondylar fractures of the distal humerus in children. Supracondylar fractures constitutes approximately 50% of all fractures. The supracondylar region is thin and weak and thus it can fracture easily. – Occurs due to falling onto an outstretched hand.
How are humerus fractures treated in a child?
In children, many of these fractures are non-displaced and can be treated with casting. Some are angulated or displaced and are best treated with surgery. In children, most of these fractures can be treated effectively with expectation for full recovery.
What happens to the arm after a humerus fracture?
Swelling and vascular injury following the fracture can lead to the development of the compartment syndrome which leads to long-term complication of Volkmann’s contracture (fixed flexion of the elbow, pronation of the forearm, flexion at the wrist, and joint extension of the metacarpophalangeal joint ).
What is the risk of a midshaft humerus fracture?
The biggest concern with a midshaft humerus fracture is injury to the radial nerve, which runs right along the bone starting at the middle side of the arm about 22 cm from the elbow, and travels against the bone for about 7 cm. If the break occurs at this same interval, there is a high risk for injury of the nerve.