Consequences of a fracture through a minimally ossified apophysis of the olecranon.

The case of a 12-year old boy with a missed olecranon fracture after an elbow trauma is presented. Knowledge of the ossification patterns around the elbow is essential in evaluating elbow trauma in children. Certain fractures of the immature elbow present diagnostic difficulty, which can lead to missed or delayed diagnosis, with possible permanent functional loss that timely diagnosis and treatment might avoid. This is particularly true for those fractures running through unossified portions of the elbow. Such a case is described.