Sixteen patients were seen with fracture-separation of the distal
humeral epiphysis. The difficulty that may be encountered in making the
diagnosis is thought to be partly responsible for the relative paucity of
previous reports of this condition. All sixteen patients revealed
posteromedial displacement of the distal humeral epiphysis on the initial
roentgenogram. Child-abuse was documented or suspected as a cause in six of
the sixteen fractures. Treatment consisted of closed reduction and
immobilization with the elbow in 90 degrees of flexion and the forearm
pronated, for three weeks. Post-injury cubitus varus, which developed in
three patients and was thought to be due to inadequate reduction, did not
progress.