title: Distal humeral epiphysiolysis in the newborn: utility of sonography and differential diagnosis.
abstract: Fracture-separation of the distal humeral epiphysis in newborn is a rare entity, usually the result of a traumatic delivery. It can mimic elbow dislocation and, due to the absence of ossification of the epiphysis at that time, cannot be diagnosed radiographically. However, ultrasound is an important diagnostic tool for this purpose because it is able to clearly visualize the cartilaginous epiphysis. In addition, it allows the differential diagnosis with posterior elbow dislocation whose therapeutic management and prognosis are different. We report the case of a preterm newborn in which a fracture-separation of the distal humeral epiphysis was diagnosed with the help of sonography. The purpose of this report is to emphasize the utility of echography as a cheap, available, and noninvasive tool for the evaluation of the nonossified epiphysis in the newborn elbow.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, IDIMAR CRC Mar-Hospital del Mar, Paseo Marítimo 25-29, 08003 Barcelona, Spain. mnavallas@gmail.com
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Navallas
authors.forename: Fina
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Díaz-Ledo
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ares
authors.forename: Amelia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Buenavida
authors.forename: Ma Angeles
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: López-Vilchez
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Solano
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: García García
authors.forename: Jose Ma
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Maiques
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mur-Sierra
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alier
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004839:Epiphyses, Slipped / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D006810:Humeral Fractures / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006811:Humerus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*