What is a supracondylar fracture?
A supracondylar fracture occurs through the thin part of the distal humerus above the level of the growth plate. Supracondylar fractures are initially divided into two types, depending on the direction of displacement of the distal fragment: Flexion-type (rare) – distal fragment is displaced anteriorly.
What is comminuted supracondylar fracture?
A supracondylar fracture is a type of elbow fracture common in young children. The location and cause of the fracture determine the type. A supracondylar fracture is a fracture in the upper arm just above the elbow joint. It is common but it can become dangerous if not treated properly.
What is the supracondylar region?
Bone – In children, the supracondylar region consists of a weak, thin bone located in the distal humerus. This area is bordered posteriorly by olecranon fossa, anteriorly by coronoid fossa and on both sides by respective supracondylar ridges.
How do you splint a supracondylar fracture?
VIII. Management
- Splint initially. Long Arm Splint or Double Sugar-Tong Splint with elbow in 80-90 degrees flexion.
- Cast. Longarm cast with Forearm in neutral rotation and elbow at 90 degrees. Cast for 3 weeks followed by XRay to demonstrate supracondylar callus. Active range of motion starts after three weeks of Casting.
Which nerve is affected in supracondylar fracture?
The injury pattern in the 196 affected nerves showed that the most commonly affected nerve was the ulnar nerve (43.4%), followed by the median (36.7%) and radial (19.9%) nerves.
How long is recovery for supracondylar fracture?
Supracondylar humerus fractures often heal within 4 weeks from start of treatment (either surgery or casting). After your child has his or her cast removed, it may take 4 weeks for the child to be able to move the elbow normally. In rare cases, your child may require physical therapy to help regain strength and motion.