Fracture-separation of the distal humeral epiphysis in young children

Fracture-separation of the distal humeral epiphysis in young children is frequently misdiagnosed as a fracture of the lateral humeral condyle or a dislocation of the elbow. The roentgenographic relationships between the ossification center of the capitulum humeri and the radius are important in distinguishing between the three conditions. Arthrographic studies in our patients showed that this is an extracapsular supracondylar fracture. In six fracture-separations treated either by open reduction and wire fixation or in overhead traction, the results were excellent.