A Clinical Study of Fracture Separation of the Distal Humeral Epiphysis in Children

Chang, J S; Song, H Y; Lee, S H; Jeong, J Y

Abstract

Fracture separation of the distal humeral epiphysis is an extremely rare type of injury. The difficulty that may be encountered in making the diagnosis is thought coming partly from the paucity of references. The authors could have experienced 5 cases of Salter-Harris type JI injury of the distal humeral epiphysis at Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, the Korea University Guro Hospital. An analytic study with these cases is made and to be reported with review of refer ences as follows. 1. The average age was 2.9 years, and all cases were males. 2. The causes of injury were fall from a height(3 cases), pedestrian injury(1 case), and belt injury(1 case). 3. Of the 5 cases, 2 cases were able to be recognized promptly, but the rest 3 csses were misdiagnosed initially as lateral condylar fracture of distal humerus in 2 cases, and supracondylar fracture in 1 case. 4. Treatment offered were closed reduction and splint immobilization for 3 cases, immobilization only for 1 case, and immobilization with long arm splint and U shaped slab in 1case, the last of which was the case with ipsilateral humerus fracture. 5. The duration of immobilization was 3.4 weeks in average. 6. After over a year follow up in 4 cases, cubitus varus deformity of was observed in 1 case, mild limitation of elbow motion was observed in 1 case, the rest 2 cases were with satisfactory results.