Type I
Nondisplaced or minally displaced fracture
On the lateral view: anterior humeral line remains intact but a posterior fat pad sign may be present
Treatment
Treated w/ immobilization in long arm posterior splint w/ elbow flexed and outpatient Ortho follow up
Type II
Posterior cortex remains intact, making it a greenstick fracture technically
Treatment
Require adequate reduction and percutaneous pinning in many instances
Consult Ortho immediately
Type III
Displaced with no cortical contact
Treatment
Immediate Ortho consult – This will need to go to the OR in most instances
[…] Supracondylar fractures of the humerus […]
Nice summary and website. FYI, there is a Type IV SCH fx (not originally included in Gartland’s classification), which involves complete disruption of the periosteum and instability in both flexion and extension. (http://jbjs.org/content/88/5/980.long)
Awesome! Thanks for the update Andy. I’ll add this to my teaching ASAP. Type IV looks especially painful