Avascular Necrosis of Trochlea After Supracondylar Humerus Fractures in Children

Am J Orthop (Belle Mead NJ). 2015 Oct;44(10):E390-3.

Abstract

Avascular necrosis (AVN) is a rare but important complication after supracondylar humerus fractures. Posttraumatic humerus deformity was first reported in 1948 and sporadically thereafter. AVN deformity has been classified as type A (AVN of the lateral ossification center) and type B (AVN of the entire medial crista and a metaphyseal portion). In this article, we present 5 cases of AVN after supracondylar humerus fracture, discuss the importance of late clinical findings, and postulate a mechanism of AVN in nondisplaced fractures. Five cases of AVN after supracondylar humerus fracture were reviewed from the Children's of Alabama database. Four of the 5 patients were female. Four patients sustained a Gartland type III fracture, and 1 patient sustained a nondisplaced Gartland type I fracture. Age at time of injury ranged from 5 years to 10 years. All patients had an asymptomatic clinical period after treatment and re-presented 6 months to 7 years later with elbow pain or loss of motion. All patients were treated symptomatically. AVN of the trochlea has a late clinical presentation. The cause of this complication is interruption of the trochlea blood supply. In displaced fractures, the medial and/or lateral vessels are injured, leading to type A or type B deformity. In nondisplaced fractures, the lateral vessels are interrupted by tamponade because of encased fracture hematoma; this presents as a type A deformity. Both type A and type B deformities can be clinically significant. AVN of the trochlea should be considered in patients with late presentation of pain or loss of motion after treatment of supracondylar humerus fractures.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Arthroscopy
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Humeral Fractures / complications*
  • Humeral Fractures / surgery
  • Humerus / injuries*
  • Humerus / pathology
  • Humerus / surgery
  • Male
  • Osteonecrosis / etiology*
  • Osteonecrosis / pathology
  • Osteonecrosis / surgery
  • Range of Motion, Articular
  • Treatment Outcome