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of the Child's Elbow > Fracture of the Condyles of the Distal Humerus in the Child What Is a Fracture of the Condyle of the Distal Humerus? Basically, a fracture of the condyle of the distal humerus is a broken elbow, a common kind of broken bone in children. But it refers to a specific portion of the elbow. The elbow joint is where the humerus (upper arm bone), radius (one lower arm bone), and ulna (other lower arm bone) all meet. In a fracture of the condyle of the distal humerus, the humerus bone is involved. The humerus is the long thick bone in the upper arm. The end where it meets the shoulder is called the proximal end; the end near the elbow is called the distal end. In children whose bones are not yet fully developed, there is a small gap at each end of the bone, called a growth plate. At the distal end of the humerus there are two rounded bony knobs called condyles. The condyle attaches to other bones, tissues and muscles. If it is injured, muscles and nerves can be affected and that in turn affects whether the elbow can bend or the arm can move. The most common kind of broken elbow is a break above the condyle (called supracondylar). The other type is a fracture of the condyle of the distal humerus. A fracture of the condyle of the distal humerus can be severe because the fracture often involves the growth plate, too. But, often, the most common break of the condyle is called a fracture of the lateral condyle, which is not as severe. The lateral condyle is that part of the rounded end of the humerus bone that is away from the body. In general, bone fractures are classified by the amount of displacement of the bone that occurs. Recommended treatment and follow-up care is based on whether or not the bone has been displaced and in what way. Displaced means that the bone parts have moved away from one another. With an elbow fracture, there are several complications that can develop and that the doctor needs to check for. One of the most common kinds of complication is damage to the nerves and the blood vessels. If the brachial artery no longer functions, a Volkmann’s contracture may result. With a fractured condyle, a major problem can occur if the bone pieces don’t rejoin as they heal. Failure of the bones to properly rejoin can cause serious nerve damage that may not show up for a number of years. Causes of a Fracture of the Condyle of the Distal Humerus? A fractured elbow is most likely to occur when a child is between the ages of 5 and 10 when the bone is still maturing. It is also most likely to occur during the summer months when children are engaged in the type of play that increases their chances of falling. The most common cause of a fractured elbow is falling on an outstretched hand with the arm extended. The force on the forearm is what causes the bone to break. Symptoms of a Fracture of the Condyle of the Distal Humerus?
Treatment of a Fracture of the Condyle of the Distal Humerus? Seek the advice of a doctor as soon as possible. In the meantime follow directions for R.I.C.E.:
If the doctor thinks there is a fracture of the condyle of the distal humerus, he or she will order some x-rays. The x-rays will reveal details about the injury. Sometimes, though, especially in young children, the fracture may be hard to notice. In these cases, there may be only a very small wafer-like fragment of the growth plate that is seen. If this occurs, the doctor may order another set of x-rays from a different angle to help confirm the diagnosis. The most common form of treatment when the fracture is not displaced is to immobilize the arm with a long cast for three to five weeks. If the fracture is displaced, the bones need to be manipulated back into position and then held there by the use of a pin. Then a splint will be used to keep the arm from moving. Sometimes it is possible to manipulate the bone into position without surgery. In that case, the wires that hold the bone in place while it heals are inserted through the skin. At other times, surgery is required to set the bones and insert the pins. With a fractured condyle it is important to follow-up the initial treatment to be sure that the bone is rejoining while it heals. If it shows signs of not rejoining, surgery is the standard response. The information provided herein is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting a licensed physician. © 2000 DynoMed.com, LLC, Indianapolis, IN |