Intercondylar fracture of the distal humerus in a 7-year-old child: A case report and a review of the literature

RATIONALE: Intercondylar fracture of the distal humerus is an extremely rare injury in children, especially in those under 8 years of age. To our best knowledge, there have been 55 reported cases of this fracture type in children in the English literature, 12 of which involved children under 8 years of age. PATIENT CONCERNS: We report a case of intercondylar fracture of the distal humerus in a7-year-old boy fell in a gymnasium, injuring his left elbow. INTERVENTIONS: Closed reduction was initially attempted under fluoroscopic guidance, but anatomic reduction could not be achieved because the fragments were extremely unstable and irreducible. Considering the displacement and the failure of closed reduction, ORIF through a posterior approach was performed. Open reduction and double cross-pinning across the medial and lateral condylar fragments were performed through a posterior approach. DIAGNOSES: Plain radiographs showed a displaced intercondylar fracture of the distal humerus. Arthrography under general anesthesia showed a severely displaced intra-articular fracture, with rotational displacement of the lateral condyle. OUTCOMES: Thirteen months after surgery, there was no functional disturbance or radiographic evidence of avascular necrosis or epiphyseal growth arrest. LESSONS: Open reduction and double cross-pinning through a posterior approach can be a reliable procedure for intercondylar fracture of the distal humerus in children.