J Korean Fract Soc.  2006 Oct;19(4):466-470. 10.12671/jkfs.2006.19.4.466.

Lateral Condylar Fracture of the Humerus in Children: An Epidemiological Analysis of 158 Cases

• Cho CH
• Song KS
• Sohn SW
• Bae KC
• Lee JH

• KMID: 2290522
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12671/jkfs.2006.19.4.466

Abstract

PURPOSE: To analyze the correlation of various factors by examining the epidemiology of lateral condylar fracture of the humerus which is the second most fracture among elbow fractures in children.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Of 158 cases treated for lateral condylar fracture of the humerus in children from April 1996 to March 2006, their age and sex distribution, the seasonal frequency, etiology, type of fracture, method of treatment, etc. were analyzed retrospectively.
RESULTS
Boys were 113 cases, girls were 45 cases, and the mean age was 5.4 years. Regarding the seasonal occurrence, spring 43 cases, summer 44 cases, autumn 48 cases, and winter 23 cases had occurred. It occurred preferentially during the season when outdoor activity was most active. As its etiology, the accident in a playground was 39 cases, sports activity was 32 cases, traffic accident was 17 cases, slipping accident at home was 15 cases, falling accident at home was 14 cases, slip while playing with friends was 6 cases, a missing step while walking on stairs was 6 cases, fall from a height more than 2 floors was 4 cases, and the cases with unknown cause were 25 cases. According to the Jakob stage, the stage I was 42 cases, the stage II 77 cases, and the stage III was 39 cases. As treatment, cast immobilization was performed in 34 cases, closed reduction and percutaneous K-wire fixation was performed in 68 cases, and open reduction and K-wire fixation was performed in 56 cases. The prevalent causalities were play devices, accident during sports activity, and traffic accident, and in such cases, the displacement of fracture was severe and thus surgical treatments were performed in many cases (94%).
CONCLUSION
It is thought that during the season when outdoor action is active, particularly, for kindergarten children or the lower grade primary school children, safety education is required to prevent the fracture by play devices, sports activity and traffic accident.

Keyword

Humerus; Lateral condylar fracture; Children; Epidemiological analysis

MeSH Terms

Accidents, Traffic
Child*
Education
Elbow
Epidemiology
Female
Friends
Humans
Humerus*
Immobilization
Retrospective Studies
Seasons
Sex Distribution
Sports
Walking