Arterial occlusion in juvenile humeral supracondylar fracture.

Juvenile supracondylar fracture of the humerus is described briefly and divided into two groups: 1. Those cases amenable to safe closed treatment; 2. Those in which occlusion of the brachial artery associated with severe displacement renders closed treatment unsafe. A specific mechanism of entrapment of the brachial artery, which has not been described previously, is reported, with the nature and the solution of the problem found at primary open operation. A discussion of the surgical anatomy shows how recognition of the mode of occlusion of the brachial artery may contribute to safe and reliable management of this type of case.