Vascular disturbances in near-epiphysis fractures of the humerus and their clinical importance for the growing skeleton

Abstract

We analysed retrospectively 50 humerus fractures in the vicinity of elbow joint and 40 fractures of the proximal humerus with respect to possible injuries of the vessel pattern of the epiphyseal plate. The normal vessel pattern of the epiphyseal plate was examined postmortem on 8 foetus and newborns up to 6 months. We plastinated the affected regions and could compare symmetry of the vessel pattern in the epiphyseal plates as well as therapeutic consequences, especially after injuries of the elbow joint. Vascular disturbances in the case of young children, i.e. by fractures of the lateral or medial condyle are undoubtedly seen. A fish-tail deformity can be a complication. By older children with mature epiphyseal plate we could not register any complications. In such cases we are interested in restoring the joint stability by refixation.