title: Fractures of the capitellum in adolescents.
abstract: Fractures of the capitellum are rare in children. The treatment of these injuries has been controversial. At a major pediatric trauma center, seven capitellar fractures were seen in children between 1988 and 1994. The average age of the children was 14.7 years (range, 11-17). Six of these fractures were type I injuries, with large anterosuperior fragments that required operative reduction and internal fixation in five cases. Internal fixation methods used were K wires in three patients, Herbert screws in one patient, and cannulated screws in one patient. The remaining type I fracture was treated with a closed reduction. The seventh fracture was a type II fracture, treated nonoperatively. Five children did well with their respective treatments, but one required reoperation to remove an exostosis block to flexion. Accurate open reduction and internal fixation for the displaced capitellar fracture in children is an effective treatment to restore normal elbow function.
authors.affiliation: University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Letts
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rumball
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bauermeister
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: McIntyre
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: D'Astous
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001863:Bone Screws; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D006810:Humeral Fractures / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008349:Manipulation, Orthopedic / Q000379:methods*; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome