One of the most frequently missed elbow fractures in children is the lateral condyle fracture. The fracture line is often very close to the physis and may be obscured by other parts of the study.

In this case, there is a lucency projected across the distal humeral metaphysis proximal to the capitellum. This fracture line extends out through the cartilage that wraps the distal humerus and is therefore a much larger injury that would be expected by looking at the x-ray alone.

These fractures are liable to slip and may well be pinned or wired.