Supracondylaire

Supracondylaire, or supracondylar in English, is an anatomical descriptor used to denote a location situated above the condyles of a bone. The term is most commonly applied to the distal humerus and the distal femur, though it can describe areas above condyles on other long bones. In the distal humerus, the supracondylar region lies just above the elbow joint, between the articular surfaces of the capitulum and trochlea and the metaphysis.

A supracondylar fracture refers to a break that occurs in this region and is a well-known pediatric elbow injury. In children, the mechanism is typically a fall on an outstretched hand. The common clinical classification for humeral supracondylar fractures is the Gartland system: Type I is nondisplaced; Type II is displaced with an intact posterior cortex; Type III is completely displaced with no cortical contact. These injuries pose a risk to neurovascular structures anterior to the distal humerus, especially the brachial artery and median nerve, and urgent assessment is essential if perfusion or motor-sensory function is affected. Diagnosis relies on radiographs of the elbow; additional imaging may be used for complex cases.

Management depends on age, fracture type, and neurovascular status. Many Type I and some Type II fractures in children are treated with closed reduction and percutaneous pinning. More displaced (Type III) fractures or those with vascular compromise often require surgical fixation, such as pins or plating. In adults, supracondylar humerus fractures are typically managed with open reduction and internal fixation due to instability. Distal femoral supracondylar fractures describe a similar location near the knee and are usually high-energy injuries requiring operative stabilization.