Fracture of the capitellum humeri which was first described by Hahn in 1853 is known to be rare. The treatment of this injury whether to exsise the fractured capitellum or to reduce and internally fixate the fragment, is a controversy.

We have analysed 10 cases of capitellum fractures, which had been treated by excision or open reduction and internal fixation. The results were as follows : the final results of excision were generally better than those cases of open reduction and internal fixation, but open reduction could also be indicated if the capitellar fragment was large enough to be fixated ; a relatively prolonged period of physiotherapy of the injured elbow was usually needed, because the restoration of useful range of motion was frequently delayed.