title: Pediatric medial epicondyle fractures with intra-articular elbow incarceration.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intra-articular incarceration of the epicondylar fragment occurs in 5-18 % of all cases of medial epicondyle fracture. It requires stable fixation to allow early motion, since elbow stiffness is the most common complication following medial epicondyle fracture. In this retrospective study, we report the clinical and functional outcomes and the complications that occurred following open reduction and screw fixation of medial epicondyle fractures with intra-articular fragment incarceration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirteen children who had a fracture of the medial epicondyle with incarceration of the fragment in the elbow joint (type III) were surgically treated in our university hospital between 1998 and 2012. There were eight male and five female patients. The mean age at the time of injury was 13 years (range 9-16). Operative treatment consisted of open reduction and internal fixation with one or two 4.0-mm cannulated screws under fluoroscopic control.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All of the patients were clinically reviewed at an average follow-up of 29 months. The overall range of motion limitation was about 5° for flexion-extension and 2° for pronation-supination. The score was excellent in all patients (mean 96.3). Complications occurred in four (31 %) children: two cases of symptomatic screw head prominence, irritation with partial lesion of the distal triceps myotendinous junction in one patient, and median nerve entrapment syndrome in one patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, open reduction and screw fixation yielded excellent clinical and functional outcomes for the treatment of medial epicondyle fractures with intra-articular fragment incarceration. However, particular attention is should be paid when treating these potentially serious injuries in order to minimize the risk of possible complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  Therapeutic IV.
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy, tarallo.luigi@policlinico.mo.it.
authors: Luigi
authors: L
authors: Tarallo
authors: Raffaele
authors: R
authors: Mugnai
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Fiacchi
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Adani
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Zambianchi
authors: Fabio
authors: F
authors: Catani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001863:Bone Screws; D002648:Child; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D006810:Humeral Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000092464:Elbow Injuries