Test 7

There is an associated elbow joint effusion, typified by elevation of the anterior and posterior fat pads, indicating that this fracture is intra-articular, i.e. it extends to the joint space. Remember that elbow joint effusions do not only result from supracondylar and radial neck fractures (the most and second most common elbow fractures in children, respectively) but from any fracture extending to the joint space (even those which are radiographically occult). As discussed previously, elbow joint alignment must be assessed on every radiograph. In this radiograph, the anterior humeral and radiocapitellar alignment are normal.