Treatment of fractures for lateral part of humeral condyle in children – a single-center experience

. elbow fractures are among the most common injuries of the locomotor system in children, second only to forearm fractures. Diagnostic and treatment errors often lead to complications. The presence of ossification centres must be taken into consideration when analysing and interpreting x-ray images. The many classifications do not reflect the whole picture of the injury in question, which is characterised by features of avulsion fracture. Aim. To identify the most common forms of fractures of lateral part of humeral condyle in children according to age and sex, and to present the treatment options and their outcomes. Material and methods. The study included 41 patients aged 4 to 14 years hospitalized at the Department of Pediatric Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University Children’s Hospital in Lublin, Poland, between 2010 and 2016. All the patients were treated surgically using an open or percutaneous approach with Kirschner wires or a cannulated screw being used to stabilise the distal fracture fragment. The treatment outcomes were evaluated using the TempletonGraham scale. Conclusions. in fractures of lateral part of humeral condyle, the aim should always be the anatomical realignment of the fracture fragments, as it allows us to restore the articular surfaces of the elbow joint and implement early rehabilitation. Stabilization of fracture fragments with Kirschner wires is an effective and minimally invasive method of treatment.