Objective: to analyze the management of floating elbow injuries in children at hospital do Trabalhador- UFPR, focusing on associated lesions, treatment and results. Methods: Between April 2002 to April 2007, 15 patients with floating elbow were treated at the same hospital service. Age ranged from 3 to 14 years old and 12 were boys. Eight fractures were at right and 7 at left side. The minimal follow up time was 44 months. We also evaluated the trauma mechanism, associated lesions, fracture exposition, classification, treatment and results. Results: In seven patients the trauma was the result of a same level fall and 3 of a fall from a height, one had a horseback fall, one from a motorcycle, one was hit by a car and 2 had the limb stuck in a washing machine. At the humerus we have 4 diaphyseal and 11 supracondylar fractures. At forearm we have 13 distal and two diaphyseal fractures. We have 3 open fractures, 2 patients with neurologic injuries, 1 with compartment syndrome, and none patient with vascular injury. One patient was treated with splint cast the other 14 patients underwent fracture fixation for humerus and forearm. One patient had a 5 degree varus deviation and there was no functional compromise. Conclusions: The floating elbow is rare, but it has a high potential for complications like nerve lesions, bone exposition and compartment syndrome. We recommend reduction and fixation of both fractures allowing better care to the soft tissue around, it also provides better evaluation of limb vascular perfusion and good functional results.
Fracture Fixation; Child; Elbow Joint
