Case Reports
Combined Medial and Lateral Condyle Elbow Fractures in a 3-Year-Old Boy
Am J Orthop. 2010 April;39(4):E33-E35
Author and Disclosure Information
Darrell L. Moulton, MD, and Kelly D. Carmichael, MD
Dr. Moulton is Clinical Instructor in Orthopaedic Surgery, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas. He was a resident at the time the article was written.
Dr. Carmichael is Associate Professor, Division of Pediatric Orthopaedics, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas.
We present a rare elbow fracture pattern in a 3-year-old boy who sustained concomitant medial and lateral elbow condyle fractures. The lateral condyle fracture was not initially appreciated on standard anteroposterior and lateral radiographs and was demonstrated best on oblique view. The patient underwent open reduction and internal fixation of both medial and lateral condyles that resulted in uneventful healing. This underlines the importance of obtaining oblique views of the elbow when diagnosing a complex elbow fracture in the skeletally immature patient.