ABSTRACT
Objective To outline the characteristics of fractures of the coronoid process of the ulna in children and distinguish them from that of the adult. Methods Twenty eight cases of fractures of the coronoid process of the ulna in children in the past five years were reviewed. There were 18(64%) boys and 10(36%) girls. According to the extent of involvement, the fractures were classified as 3 types based on modified Regan and Morrey method. Of those, 10 cases were associated with other injuries such as dislocation of the elbow, fracture of the radial neck, fracture of the olecranon and so on. In this series, open reduction and internal fixation were applied in only 2 cases with type Ⅲ injury and conservative treatment including immobilization of the elbow in flexion with long arm plaster splint were done in all of the rest cases. Results Seventeen patients were followed up for an average of 14 months(range, 4 months to 5 years). The clinical results were evaluated according to pain, range of motion, muscular strength and stability of the elbow. The overall excellent result were achieved in 94%of the patients. No complaint and late complication were found in this series. Conclusion There are some obvious differences in the coronoid process fracture of the ulna between children and adult: 1)fewer cases associated with dislocation of the elbow in the children than in the adult; 2)the clinical results were relatively better in children than that in the adult whatever the surgical or conservative treatment was performed; 3)the prognosis of fractures of the coronoid process of the ulna was better and the complications were less in children than that in the adults.