Manual of Surgery Volume Second: Extremities—Head—Neck. Sixth Edition.Thomson, Alexis
Science
Manual of Surgery Volume Second: Extremities—Head—Neck. Sixth Edition.
Thomson, Alexis
Surgery
The #inter-condylar# fracture is a combination of the supra-condylar
with a vertical split running through the articular surface, and so
implicating the joint. The condyles are thus separated from one
another, as well as from the shaft, by a T- or Y-shaped cleft. As such
fractures usually result from severe forms of direct violence, they
are often comminuted and compound. In addition to the signs of
supra-condylar fracture, the joint is filled with blood. The condyles
may be felt to move upon one another, and coarse crepitus, which has
been likened to the feeling of a bag of beans, may be elicited if the
fragments are comminuted.
[Illustration: FIG. 34.--Radiogram of T-shaped Fracture of Lower End
of Humerus.]
#Separation of the lower epiphysis# of the humerus is met with in
children of three or four years of age, but it may occur up to the
thirteenth or fourteenth year. The more common lesion, however, is a
combination of separated epiphysis with fracture, and this lesion is
produced by the same forms of violence as cause supra-condylar
fracture. If the periosteum is not torn, there is little or no
displacement, but as a rule the clinical features closely resemble
those of transverse fracture above the condyles, or of dislocation of
the elbow. In separation of the epiphysis there is a peculiar
deformity of the posterior aspect of the joint, consisting of two
projections--one the olecranon, and the other the prominent capitellum
with a scale of cartilage which it carries with it from the lateral
condyle (R. W. Smith and E. H. Bennett). The end of the diaphysis may
be palpated through the skin in front. Muffled crepitus can usually be
elicited, and there is pain on pressing the segments against one
another. Sometimes the separation is _compound_, the diaphysis
protruding through the skin.
Union takes place more rapidly than in fracture, but, owing to the
excessive formation of callus from the torn periosteum in front of the
joint, full flexion is often interfered with. If the displaced
epiphysis is imperfectly reduced, serious interference with the
movements of the elbow is liable to ensue, and may call for operative
treatment.
#Fracture of either Condyle alone.#--The lateral condyle or trochlea
is more frequently separated from the rest of the bone than is the
medial or capitellum. In either, the size of the fragment varies, but
the line of fracture is partly extra-capsular and partly
intra-capsular, so that the joint is always involved. Pain, crepitus,
and the other signs of fracture are present. As the ligaments of the
joint are not as a rule torn, there is little or no immediate
displacement of the fragment. Secondary displacement is liable to
occur, however, during the process of union, producing alterations in
the "carrying angle" of the limb--_cubitus varus_ or _cubitus valgus_.
#Fracture of Epicondyles.#--Fracture of the _lateral epicondyle_ alone
is so rare that it need only be mentioned.
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