Presentation
Fall from climbing frame. Not using arm.
Patient Data
There is an oblique lucency projected across the lateral humeral condyle adjacent to the capitellum. This represents fracture of the lateral humeral condyle and is one of the commonest paediatric elbow injuries.
Zoomed AP image of the elbow. Its important to remember that the paediatric elbow is wrapped in cartilage as the ossification centres develop. The red-dashed line represents the approximate position of the cartilage margin. The fracture fragment of a lateral condylar fracture therefore represents a significant chunk of the distal humerus!
Case Discussion
Lateral humeral condyle fractures are one of the commonest fractures of the paediatric elbow. They may be subtle radiographically since only a small amount of ossified tissue is detached from the humeral metaphysis. However, the fracture fragment is predominantly cartilage and a sizeable fragment of tissue.
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