Operative treatment of fracture of medial epicondyle of humerus in children

Purpose: We investigated injury mechanism, clinical feature, treatment, and prognosis in fracture of medial epicondyle of humerus in children. Material and Method: From April 1997 to April 2000, 10 fractures of medial epicondyle of humerus treated by operative method and followed up for minimum 12 months were analyzed retrospectively. Results: The injury mechanism includes slip down with elbow outstretched in 8 case, throwing ball in one case, arm wrestling in other one case. Ulnar nerve symptom at the distal region of fracture site was noted in one case. 2 cases had elbow dislocation at the time of trauma. Fractured fragment displaced more than 5㎜ in 9 cases and fractured fragment incarcerated in elbow joint in one case. Open reduction and internal fixation was done with medial approach. The mean period of cast immobilization was 6 weeks postoperatively and after removal of cast, gentle exercise of range of motion was started. After operation and postoperative follow up, in all case except one, the full range of motion of elbow joint was recovered and there were no ulnar nerve symptom and valgus instability in affected elbow joint. Conclusion: The indication of operation for fracture of medial epicondyle of humerus is controversial, yet. We had done open reduction and internal fixation for medial epicondyle of humerus only in case of displacement of fractured fragment more than 5㎜ and incarceration in elbow joint after manual reduction, ulnar nerve symptom. In 90 percents of all case, the result was satisfactory.ope