Floating Elbow in Children: About 3 Cases

Abstract

Introduction: We aimed to discuss through a description of three cases of floating elbow in children the management and outcome aspect. Observations: Case 1: 11-year-old boy. Admitted for for a left floating elbow made by a stage III supracondylar fracture associated with a fracture of both bones of the forearm. He was managed by surgery (K-wire) for both fractures. Case 2: 4-year-old girl admitted for bilateral floating elbow made by a fracture of the external condyl, associated with a fracture of both bones of the forearm on the right side. In the left upper limb a fracture of the upper extremity of the humerus, stage IV supracondylar fracture and, epiphyseal detachment of the radius. She under-went an orthopaedic reduction for the epiphyseal radial detachment and surgical treatment of the other fractures. Case 3: 7-year-old patient admitted following a roadway accident, with the lesion assessment of a fracture of the humerus associated with a fracture of the olecranon, of the radial head and diaphyseal fractures of the two bones of the forearm. She received surgical treatment for all of her injuries. With a follow-up of 15 months, the evolution was considered satisfactory. Conclusion: The floating elbow is both a rare and a complex pathology in children, which combines several concomitant lesions of different severity and prognosis. A precise lesion assessment is necessary for an adequate treatment.