Medial Epicondyle Fractures

Abstract

A 15-year-old male high school wrestler presented to an outside hospital with acute right elbow pain and ulnar nerve paresthesia after sustaining a fall onto his outstretched right arm during a match. Radiographs demonstrated a displaced right medial epicondyle fracture. After discussion with the patient and his family, a decision was made to proceed with surgical management. The patient was taken to the operating room and placed in the prone position with the right arm supported over a radiolucent board and bump. A medial approach to the elbow was performed and the ulnar nerve was visualized. The fracture was reduced and provisionally stabilized with a wire. A 4.0 mm partially threaded cannulated screw was then used for definitive fracture fixation. The patient was then placed in a long arm cast and elbow range-of-motion exercises were initiated 1 week after surgery. His ulnar nerve paresthesia’s resolved over the course of 2 weeks. Three months after surgery, the patient was pain-free and had full right elbow motion, at which time he returned to full activities.