Rangasamy K, Maheshwari S, Ghosh A, Gopinathan NR. Paediatric bilateral 'floating elbow'.
BMJ Case Rep 2024;
17:e258311. [PMID:
38286584 PMCID:
PMC10826532 DOI:
10.1136/bcr-2023-258311]
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Abstract
A child sustained an ipsilateral supracondylar humerus (SCH) and distal both-bone forearm fractures bilaterally, in addition to facial injuries, following a fall from height. He was managed surgically by closed reduction and pinning for both SCH and distal end radius fractures bilaterally. At the final follow-up, all the fractures had united uneventfully, and he had no functional limitations or cosmetic concerns. We conclude that a floating elbow in the paediatric population is an uncommon injury, and the bilateral scenario is even rarer. One should be vigilant for compartment syndrome; early surgical fixation may give better results.
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