The pediatric T-supracondylar fracture.

T-supracondylar fractures of the humerus occur rarely in children compared with the adult variety. Sixteen such fractures treated at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario between 1975 and 1983 are described. There were nine male and seven female patients, 7-17 years old. All fractures were displaced, two were open, and one patient had an associated radial nerve palsy. All cases were managed by open reduction, internal fixation, and early mobilization. Follow-up revealed no cases of functional disability despite significant loss of motion in two patients. The conservative approach should be abandoned in these intraarticular injuries, and good operative results can be anticipated.