![]() To ensure normal elbow function, the arm needs to be straight. Treating a Supracondylar Fracture (Pediatric Broken Elbow)? Treatment depends on the severity of the injury, but regardless of the required treatment, all kids are expected to be able to resume all of their normal activities (only sometimes it takes a bit more work to get the bone to heal). About 10% of children with a supracondylar fracture will also have a broken wrist that requires treatment. Lastly, its important to check the whole arm for signs of additional breaks. This classification system helps to guide treatment. A Type 3 is bent really far backward and none of the bone remains in contact (its completely displaced). A Type 2 is bent backward, but part of the bone remains in contact (think of the bone as being hinged open). A Type 1 fracture is nondisplaced: the bone is broken, but the fragment didnt move out of position. Based on the severity of the break the injury is classified as a Gartland Type 1, 2, or 3. A Supracondylar fracture is best seen on a side view (because in a supracondylar fracture the arm bone bends backward). Based on this type of story doctors will be suspicious for this injury and will order X-rays of the elbow and forearm to diagnose the fracture. Kids will immediately report pain, swelling and inability to straighten the elbow. ![]() Most of these injuries occur after falling from a height (like falling off the bed, off the monkeybars, or off somewhere else a few feet off from the ground). Now that we know where this injury occurs, lets see how its diagnosed.ĭiagnosing a Supracondylar Fracture (Pediatric Broken Elbow)? The diagnosis of a Supracondylar Fracture is made by first listening to the history of a child's injury and their symptoms. A Flexion Type Supracondylar Fracture, where the elbow is hyper-bent forward, can occur but is only seen in 5% of cases. The pointy part of the elbow (called the olecranon, yes its a silly name) acts as a fulcrum and the humerus cracks over it. But in rare cases when there is too much force with the fall (like seen when falling off the monkeybars), our muscles that bend the elbow (called the biceps and brachialis) cannot absorb this big force so all the energy gets transmitted directly to the arm bone. The Extension Type occurs when a child completely straightens their arm to brace for a fall, which sounds normal enough, and in most cases nothing happens. Hyper-extension of the elbow causes an Extension Type supracondylar fracture (seen in 95% of cases).
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