ETIOLOGY OF SUPRACONDYLAR HUMERUS FRACTURES

The specific etiology of supracondylar humerus fractures in children i s not well known. All supracondylar humerus fractures treated at Child ren's Hospital and Health Center, San Diego (CHSD) over an 8-year peri od (n = 391) were reviewed to determine specific information about the manner in which the injury occurred. Girls tended to sustain these fr actures more often, and the nondominant arm was more often injured. Fa lls from a height accounted for 70% of the fractures. Children less th an or equal to 3 years old tended to fall off of household objects (be ds, couches, other objects 3-6 feet high), and children 4 years and ol der tended to fall from playground equipment such as monkey bars, slid es, and swings. Safety precautions should be implemented in homes of y oung children and at playgrounds to avoid these fractures.