The Use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Management of Minimally Displaced or Nondisplaced Lateral Humeral Condyle Fractures in Children.

Objectives: Fractures of the lateral humeral condyle are common in children. Nondisplaced fractures are managed with cast immobilization and frequent radiographic follow-up. Possibility of assessing the displacement and stability of such fractures may be helpful in planning the initial treatment and survey. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could be a useful tool in determining the stability of lateral condyle in children. We propose to investigate the use of MRI in such indication.

Methods: Fourteen patients presenting with a minimally displaced or nondisplaced fracture were initially treated with a long arm cast and had an MRI within 5 days of injury.

Results: The MRI showed that 10 patients had an incomplete fracture without disruption of the cartilage hinge and 4 patients had a complete fracture with extension of the fracture through the cartilaginous epiphysis into the elbow joint. Three patients with such complete fracture had no evidence of lateral condyle displacement on MRI, and 1 patient had a displacement of the lateral condyle. The patients with incomplete fractures had a conservative treatment. The patient with a complete and displaced fracture had an open reduction and internal fixation. The 3 patients with a complete fracture and no evidence of lateral condyle displacement on MRI had a control MRI, 6 to 10 days after cast application, to detect a secondary displacement of the fracture.

Conclusions: Because it seems difficult in minimally displaced or nondisplaced fractures to detect further displacement with radiographs, MRI was found mandatory to improve complete fracture visualization during the first phase of conservative treatment. In incomplete fractures, initial MRI investigation was consistent with a stable fracture and avoided further early radiographs or clinical survey. In such cases, we recommend a conservative treatment with late radiographs after long arm cast removal. We propose MRI routine use in the early evaluation of minimally displaced or nondisplaced lateral condyle fractures in children.