Plastic bowing, torus and greenstick supracondylar fractures of the humerus: radiographic clues to obscure fractures of the elbow in children.

The anterior humeral line is a valuable aid in the search for supracondylar fractures in children. When it is abnormal other signs of fracture should be carefully sought. The AHL was normal in only 5.8% of the cases reviewed (4 of 68 cases). There was other evidence of fracture in each case. Comparison of the AHLs on both sides is helpful when the AHL is normal since it may disclose subtle displacement of the line on the affected side. In children younger than 2 1/2 years the AHL may pass through the anterior third of the capitellum due to the small size of the ossification center; in these patients comparison with the opposite side may also be helpful.