Supracondylar fracture - occult

Case contributed by Henry Knipe
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Elbow pain post fall.

Patient Data

Age: 10 years
Gender: Female
x-ray

Large joint effusion. No fracture is identified. Normal skeletal alignment. 

Marrow edema through the supracondylar region of the distal humerus with corresponding PD low signal fracture line. Lipohemarthrosis. 

Case Discussion

In the pediatric age group, a large joint effusion is a supracondylar fracture until proven otherwise.

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