UMEM Educational Pearls

Category: Orthopedics

Title: Ossification Centers of the Elbow in Children

Keywords: Ossification Centers, Elbow (PubMed Search)

Posted: 3/27/2010 by Michael Bond, MD (Updated: 3/29/2024)
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Review of the Appearance of Ossification Centers in Children's Elbows

Determing if a child's elbow has a fracture or if you are looking at an ossification center is easier if you remember the mnemonic CRITOE.  This is the order that the ossification centers appear:

  • Capitellum 1 to 8 months
  • Radial Head 3 to 5 years
  • Internal (medial) Epicondyle 5 to 7 years
  • Trochlea 7 to 9 years
  • Olecranon 8 to 11 years
  • External (Lateral) Epicondyle 11 to 14 yeras