Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 13, 2025
A Pediatric Concussion Model in Mice: Closed Head Injury with Long-Term Disorders (CHILD)
Published on: February 7, 2025
Capitellum and Capitellar-Trochlear Shear Injury in Children
Naum Simanovski1, Roy S Horowitz1, Vladimir Goldman1
1Orthopedic Department, Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel; and.
Insights
Surgical repair of pediatric capitellar fractures using cannulated headless screws yielded good outcomes. Associated osseoligamentous injuries may negatively impact prognosis for these elbow fractures.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Pediatric Orthopedics
- Trauma Surgery
Background:
- Capitellar fractures are uncommon in pediatric patients.
- Surgical management aims to restore elbow function and prevent long-term complications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report clinical results of surgical intervention for pediatric capitellar fractures.
- To highlight surgical approaches, instruments, and prognostic factors.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective descriptive case-series study of 12 pediatric patients (2017-2021).
- Surgical intervention involved open reduction and internal fixation, primarily with cannulated headless screws.
- Functional outcomes assessed using Mayo Elbow Performance Score; arthrosis evaluated with Bromberg and Morrey system.
Main Results:
- All fractures healed within 5-7 weeks.
- Mean Mayo Elbow Performance Score was 98.
- Three patients developed arthrosis; one experienced capitellar osteonecrosis.
Conclusions:
- The Kocher approach with 2-3 retrograde cannulated screws is suitable for isolated capitellar fractures.
- Transolecranon approach with 3 cannulated screws is effective for capitellar-trochlear shear fractures.
- Osseoligamentous injuries are a potential unfavorable prognostic factor.
Objectives:
We report our clinical results following surgical intervention for capitellar fractures in a pediatric population, highlighting approaches, surgical instruments, and possible prognostic factors.
Design:
Retrospective descriptive case-series study.
Setting:
A tertiary referral hospital.
Patients:
Twelve pediatric patients with capitellar or capitellar-trochlear injuries were treated between 2017 and 2021.
Intervention:
Open reduction and internal fixation primarily using cannulated headless screws.
Main Outcome Measurements:
The mean follow-up period was 22 months (range: 10-35 months). Functional outcomes were assessed using the Mayo Elbow Performance Score. Post-traumatic elbow arthrosis was assessed using the Bromberg and Morrey rating system.
Results:
All fractures healed within 5-7 weeks. The mean Mayo Elbow Performance Score value was 98 (range, 85-100). Three patients developed arthrosis, and one had capitellar osteonecrosis.
Conclusions:
Based on our experience, the Kocher approach and fixation of 2-3 retrograde cannulated screws together represent an appropriate surgical technique for isolated capitellar fractures, whereas good functional outcomes are attainable for capitellar-trochlear shear fractures using the transolecranon approach with 3 cannulated screw fixations. Further injuries to the osseoligamentous structures around the elbow joint are suspected to be an unfavorable prognostic factor.
Level Of Evidence:
Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
More Related Videos
04:54Modified Mouse Model of Repetitive Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Incorporating Thinned-Skull Window and Fluid Percussion
Published on: April 19, 2024
07:02An Investigation of the Effects of Sports-related Concussion in Youth Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging and the Head Impact Telemetry System
Published on: January 12, 2011
Related Concept Videos
01:22Sutures of the Skull
Sutures are immobile joints between adjacent bones of the skull. The narrow gap between the bones is filled with dense, fibrous connective tissue that unites the bones. The long sutures located between the skull bones are not straight but instead follow irregular, tightly twisting paths. These twisting lines tightly...
01:14Cranial Bones: Superior and Posterior View
The frontal bone is the single bone that forms the forehead. At its anterior midline, between the eyebrows, there is a slight depression called the glabella. The frontal bone also forms the supraorbital margin of the orbit. Near the middle of this margin is the supraorbital foramen, the opening that provides passage for a sensory nerve to the forehead. The frontal bone is thickened just above each supraorbital margin,...