Neonatal physeal separation of distal humerus during cesarean section

Abstract

Diagnosing physeal separation of the distal humerus in a newborn can be challenging. Skeletal immaturity and absence of secondary ossification centers make radiographic diagnosis difficult for inexperienced providers. This fracture is seen in the setting of complicated deliveries with excessive traction and rotation applied to the forearm. We report a case of physeal separation of the distal humerus in a newborn as a complication of cesarean section and describe the intervention used and the short-term results.