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