Fractures, often known as shattered bones, are among the most frequent injuries suffered by kids. Any bone in the body is susceptible to fractures, which are categorised differently based on how severe the break is. The elbow is one of the most often fractured bones in children.

Children with elbow fractures require medical attention from an orthopaedic surgeon or doctor. Children’s bones are different from adults’ bones, and since they are still growing, fractures can cause problems that last a lifetime if they are not treated quickly and efficiently right away.

Depending on the kind and severity of the fracture and how other adjacent structures, such as skin, muscles, blood vessels, nerves, and ligaments, are affected, fractures can be treated nonsurgically or surgically.

Some examples of fracture classifications are:

• Stress or Hairline: A portion of the bone has broken. The bone does not divide into individual pieces as a result of it.
• Non-Displaced – The bone is completely broken, but the fragments are correctly positioned relative to one another.
• Displaced: The bone has completely broken and the pieces aren’t lined up properly. To straighten them, surgery could be necessary.
• Comminuted: When a bone fractures, it breaks up into more than two pieces. Surgery is necessary to treat this kind of fracture. It is necessary to realign and restructure the bone’s fragments.

Here are the most common types of elbow fractures in children.

Supracondylar Fracture

The growth plate of the humerus immediately above the elbow is fractured in this form of elbow fracture, which is the most frequent type. Usually, it happens when a person falls while playing a sport or onto an outstretched arm. Surgery might not be necessary if the fracture is mild or moderate, but if it is serious, surgery might be necessary.

Epicondylar Fracture

This kind of fracture happens just where the bone protrudes from the elbow, at the tip. It frequently results from overuse, playing baseball and arm wrestling, and may affect the medial or lateral portion of the elbow. A displaced elbow may also cause it.

Monteggia Fracture

Mongteggia fractures happen when the proximal radio-ulnar joint separates from the elbow joint and the ulna breaks. Severe pain, edoema, and a limited range of motion are frequently seen in conjunction with this injury.