[Nerve injuries after elbow luxation fractures in childhood : Indication and timing for surgical revision].

BACKGROUND: Supracondylar humerus fractures are very common in pediatric populations. In cases of dislocated fractures, closed reduction and percutaneous K‑wire fixation is recommended. Initially, 10-16 % of the patients also present lesion of the ulnar nerve as well as median nerve palsy in 6.4% and radial nerve palsy in 2.6 % of cases, respectively.

METHOD: We present the case of a 10-year-old boy with a dislocation of the elbow and fracture of the medial epicondyle. After closed reduction and K‑wire fixation from medial, he presents a median nerve palsy. That a lesion of the ulnar nerve is also present is only noticed 3½ years posttraumatically. A surgical decompression and neurolysis of the ulnar and median nerve is performed and the postoperative grip and key strength presented.

DISCUSSION: With the help of the presented case we discuss the indication and the point of surgical revision. Clinical assessment and neurosonography are essential for an exact diagnosis.