Supracondylar Fractures in Children
EXTENSION TYPE SUPRACONDYLAR FRACTURES
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Most common type
Anatomy
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At age of 6.5 yrs, supracondylar area is remodelling, and is thinner than at other ages
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Elbow also tends to hyperextend at this age group, contributing to the mechanism of injury
Mechanism of injury:
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Fall onto outstretched hand from bunkbed /climbing frame height.
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The elbow becomes locked in hyperextension
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The linear applied force then produces tension forces anteriorly
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The olecranon is forced posteriorly into the olecranon fossa
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As the anterior bending force continues, the distal humerus fails in tension at the supracondylar region
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Triceps causes posterior and proximal migration of distal fracture fragment
Classification :
Gartland's classification, 1959 :
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Type 1
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Undisplaced
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Type 2
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Displaced with intact posterior cortex
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Type 3
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Displaced, no cortical contact, posteromedial, posterolateral
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