Final answer:
The most common elbow fracture in children is a supracondylar fracture, where the olecranon of the ulna is driven upward resulting in a fracture across the distal humerus. Compression of the artery to the forearm due to swelling is a concern, as it can lead to reduced blood flow and damage to the forearm muscles. Additionally, humeral fractures may also damage nerves associated with shoulder and upper limb muscles.
Step-by-step explanation:
A fall onto the tip of the elbow in children frequently results in a distal humerus fracture. This can lead to a supracondylar fracture, where the olecranon of the ulna is driven upward and the distal humerus is fractured above both epicondyles, or an intercondylar fracture, where the fracture occurs between the epicondyles, separating one or both of the epicondyles from the body of the humerus.
The most common elbow fracture in children is the supracondylar fracture. In these fractures, the immediate concern is possible compression of the artery to the forearm due to swelling of the surrounding tissues, which can result in reduced blood flow and damage to the forearm muscles.
Four major nerves for shoulder and upper limb muscles are closely associated with different regions of the humerus, and humeral fractures may also damage these nerves.