Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 19, 2025
Block Building Task Identifies Distinct Groups of Left/Right-hand Choice Patterns After Unilateral Peripheral Nerve Injury
Published on: March 21, 2025
Radiologic, clinical, and functional evaluation of children with lateral humeral condyle fractures using the Quick
Ibrahim Abusaq1, Antoine Martins1, Mounira Mansour1
1Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital Estaing, Clermont Ferrand.
Insights
Lateral humeral condyle (LHC) fractures in children generally heal well with good functional outcomes, regardless of treatment or fracture severity. Families should be aware of minor potential complications, but overall prognosis is positive for pediatric elbow fractures.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Pediatric Traumatology
- Radiology
Background:
- Lateral humeral condyle (LHC) fractures are common pediatric elbow injuries.
- Assessing clinical and radiologic outcomes is crucial for effective management.
- Functional outcomes often dictate treatment success in pediatric fractures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate clinical and radiologic outcomes of pediatric LHC fractures.
- To evaluate functional outcomes using the Quick DASH questionnaire based on treatment type.
- To correlate fracture severity and patient age with functional results.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of pediatric patients with LHC fractures (Jan 2011-Dec 2018).
- Fracture classification using Jakob's criteria based on anterior-posterior and lateral elbow radiographs.
- Functional outcome assessment via the Quick DASH questionnaire, alongside data on pain, stiffness, and range of motion.
Main Results:
- Forty-eight children (mean age 6.06 years) were analyzed with a mean follow-up of 75 months.
- Overall Quick DASH score was 4, with scores of 2.69, 3, and 3.06 for Jakob grades 1, 2, and 3, respectively.
- Functional outcomes were comparable across different fracture severities, treatment types, immobilization durations, and ages (P > 0.05).
Conclusions:
- Pediatric LHC fractures demonstrate good functional and radiologic outcomes irrespective of initial displacement or treatment approach.
- Age at surgery and immobilization length do not significantly impact functional outcomes.
- While complications are uncommon (10.5%), families should be informed about potential minor issues.
Abstract:
This study investigated the clinical and radiologic outcomes of lateral humeral condyle (LHC) fractures in children and evaluated the functional outcome of these injuries according to the type of treatment using the Quick DASH questionnaire. Data on consecutive children admitted to the Emergency Department for LHC fracture (01/11-12/18) were collected from their charts. Anterior-posterior and lateral radiographs of the injured elbow were used to classify each fracture according to Jakob's classification, and to detect any other concomitant bone lesions. Data on pain, stiffness, impact on daily activities, skin lesions, surgical-site infection, and range of motion were retrieved. The Quick DASH questionnaire was used to evaluate functional outcome. Forty-eight children with a mean age at trauma of 6.06 ± 2.22 years (32 males; mean follow-up: 75 ± 25 months) were reviewed. The overall Quick DASH score was 4 (0-15.9); it was 2.69 ± 0.31 in Jakob-1 ( n = 12; 25%), 3 ± 1.06 in Jakob-2 ( n = 19; 39.6%), and 3.06 ± 1.56 in Jakob-3 fractures ( n = 17; 35.4%). Functional outcomes were similar irrespective of the severity of displacement, type of treatment, length of postoperative immobilization, and presence of associated fracture ( P > 0.05). Quick DASH scores in children less than 8 years (2.77 ± 0.44) and in those more than 8 years (3.47 ± 2.13) were similar ( P > 0.05). Five out of 48 patients developed one complication (10.5%). Good functional and radiologic outcomes can be expected in children with LHC fractures irrespective of the amount of initial displacement, type of treatment, length of postoperative immobilization, and age at surgery. Families should be warned about potential complications although these are most often minor. Level of evidence: III.
