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A 6-year-old girl falls from the monkey bars onto an outstretched right hand. She holds the elbow semi-flexed with diffuse swelling over the distal humerus, and is tender there but not over the radial head; the radial pulse and sensation are normal. On the true lateral radiograph a triangular lucency lies behind the distal humerus, lifted away from the bone. The anterior humeral line passes through the middle third of the capitellum, the radiocapitellar line is intact and no cortical break is seen. The provisional report reads 'no fracture identified'. Which one of the following is the most appropriate treatment of her elbow?
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