Fractures of the Lateral Condyle in Children Wheeless

Description: - common fracture in children (20% of pediatric elbow fractures);
- occurs most often between 6-10 yrs of age;
- mechanism: fall on the outstretched arm with forearm in abduction & elbow in extension;
- fractures of the lateral condyle of humerus are unstable & tend to become displaced even when immobilized because of pull of forearm extensors;
- these fractures are also prone to non union since the frx is intra-articular & is bathed in synovial fluid
Wheeless' Textbook of Orthopaedics