Entrapment of the Brachial Artery Following SupracondylarFracture Reduction: A Case Report

Background: supracondylar fractures of the humerus are common elbow fractures in children.supracondylar fractures have two subtypes: flexion, which makes up less than 2% of all suchfractures, and extension, which makes up more than 98% of supracondylar fracture of the humerus.supracondylar fractures of the humerus can develop vascular and neurological complications,either following the fracture itself due to the detached pieces of bone or after reduction or k-wirefixation therapy. the most common complication is damage to the brachial artery.case presentation: our patient is a healthy 7-year-old right dominant boy who sustained agartland type iii fracture following a fall and was admitted to the emergency ward. at first, aweak pulse was detected in the distal part of the right upper extremity. after the reduction using2 k-wires, the distal pulse of the limb became undetectable. vascular examination revealed thatthe adventitia of the brachial artery was trapped between the condyle parts. the artery was thenreleased, and the distal pulse returned.conclusions: this case shows that although entrapment and pulling of the adventitia of thebrachial artery between the condyles of the humerus following a supracondylar fracture is a rareoccurrence, it can happen in this type of fracture. after reduction using k-wires percutaneously, aneurovascular examination in all cases of supracondylar fractures is necessary. in supracondylarfractures with pink pulseless limbs, immediate arterial exploration can achieve a markedlybetter outcome than simply monitoring.