Osteochondral flap fracture of the olecranon in a child.

Abstract

Osteochondral flap fracture in a child is rare. A 7 year-old boy with an osteochondral flap fracture is reported. Intraoperatively, the osteochondral fragment in the olecranon fossa was connected to a part of the medial collateral ligament. The authors suppose that this type of fracture occur not only as a result of a shearing force of the trochlea but also by a traction force through the medial collateral ligament when a complete tear of the medial collateral ligament was avoided for any reason. Furthermore, the immaturity of bone of the child may result in avulsion fracture, not in injury of the distal part of the ligament. Osteosynthesis with poly-L-lactic acid pins was useful to reacquire good elbow function.