Hume fracture
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| Hume fracture | |
|---|---|
| Specialty | Orthopedic |
The Hume fracture is an injury of the elbow comprising a fracture of the olecranon with an associated anterior dislocation of the radial head which occurs in children. It was originally described as an undisplaced olecranon fracture,[1] but more recently includes displaced fractures and can be considered a variant of the Monteggia fracture.[2]
The injury was described in 1957 by A.C. Hume of the orthopaedic surgery department of St. Bartholomew's Hospital, Rochester.[1]
Although the precise mechanism of injury is unclear, the injury occurs in children who have fallen heavily with their arm trapped under the body. In his original description of the injury, Hume suggested that the injury occurred as a result of hyperextension of the elbow leading to fracture of the olecranon, with pronation of the forearm leading to the radial head dislocation.[1]