Elbow fractures in children. An epidemiological analysis of 589 cases.

The radiographs of 589 elbow fractures in children under the age of 16 years were reviewed. The most common fractures were: supracondylar fracture of the humerus -55 per cent, fracture of the radial neck -14 per cent, and fracture of the lateral humeral condyle -12 per cent. One fifth of all fractures of the olecranon were associated with another elbow fracture; most often a fracture of the medial epicondyle. The average annual incidence of elbow fractures in the age group studied was 12 per 10.000 (10.0-14.7) without a significant change of the incidence between 1950 and 1979. Supracondylar and lateral condylar fracture of the humerus and fracture of the olecranon occurred more often in boys. Fractures of the lateral humeral condyle were more often caused by higher energy levels than the other fracture groups.