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Bones & Joints
Lateral condyle fractures are breaks in the outside knob of the elbow bone (humerus) in children, the second most common pediatric elbow fracture after supracondylar fractures, typically from fall onto outstretched arm causing elbow to buckle inward—presenting with outside elbow pain, swelling, and difficulty straightening arm. These fractures are tricky because they involve the growth plate and joint surface, with high risk of nonunion (failure to heal) or malunion (crooked healing) causing permanent elbow deformity if undertreated. Minimally displaced fractures (less than 2mm) can be treated with casting, but any displacement greater than 2mm requires surgery (pins or screws) to prevent complications, with 85-90% excellent outcomes when treated appropriately but 30-40% complication rate if treatment inadequate.
What it is and why it happens
Lateral condyle fractures are breaks in the outside knob of the elbow bone (humerus) in children, the second most common pediatric elbow fracture after supracondylar fractures, typically from fall onto outstretched arm causing elbow to buckle inward—presenting with outside elbow pain, swelling, and difficulty straightening arm. These fractures are tricky because they involve the growth plate and joint surface, with high risk of nonunion (failure to heal) or malunion (crooked healing) causing permanent elbow deformity if undertreated. Minimally displaced fractures (less than 2mm) can be treated with casting, but any displacement greater than 2mm requires surgery (pins or screws) to prevent complications, with 85-90% excellent outcomes when treated appropriately but 30-40% complication rate if treatment inadequate.