Objective To study the surgical procedures and results for treating the nonunion of lateral humeral condyle fracture combined with cubitus valgus in adolescents. Methods From June 2004 to October 2006, 5 patients with nonunion of lateral humeral condyle fracture and cubitus valgus were treated, including 3 males and 2 females aged 8-17 yearsold. Three cases received external fixation for 2-3 weeks in other hospital, while 2 cases were misdiagnosed as soft tissue injury. The patients were hospital ized after they were diagnosed with nonunion of lateral humeral condyle fracture and cubitus valgus 4-12 years after injury. Preoperatively, the angle of cubitus valgus deformity was 25-55° (average 44.8°), and the elbow motion range of flexion and extension was 135-140° (average 139°) and 0-20° (average 7°), respectively. One case with the symptoms of ulnar neuritis was diagnosed as incomplete injury of ulnar nerve. The time between admission to hospital and operation was 3-7 days. All the patients were treated with wedge shaped supracondylar osteotomy of the distal aspect of humerus and humerus lateral column reconstruction. Regular follow-up was conducted after operation and the elbow function was evaluated according to the scale system of Jupiter et al. Results All incisions healed by first intention and all the cases were followed up for 14-28 months (average 20 months). X-ray films revealed that bone union was attained in all the 5 cases, among which the bone union at the supracondylar osteotomy site was reached 5-8 weeks after operation (average 6 weeeks) and the bone union at the lateral column reconstruction site was reached 3-6 months after operation. The deformity of cubitus valgus was corrected in all thecases. At latest follow-up, the flexion motion of the elbow was 100-135° (average 121°), and the extension range was 0-30° (average 13°), the angle of postoperative cubitus valgus deformity was — 5-10° (average 2°). According to the system of Jupiter et al, 2 cases were excellent, 2 cases were good and 1 case was fair. One patient and symptoms of radial nerve traction injury after operation and achieved complete recovery 3 months later; and 1 case suffering from ulnar neuritis before operation recovered 6 months after operation. No other compl ications occurred. Conclusion It is effective to use wedge-shaped supracondylar osteotomy of the distal aspect of the humerus and lateral colum reconstruction through internal fixation to treat the nonunion of the lateral humeral condyle fracture combined with cubitus valgus.
Objective To analyze the treatment of old united lateral condyle fractures of humerus in children.Methods From January 1997 toFebruary 2002, 13 cases of old united lateral condyle fractures of humerus were treated. There were 11 boys and 2 girls. Their age was from 4 to 11 years(7.2 years on average). The primary diagnosis results were 4 cases of degree Ⅰ fracture, 5 cases of degree Ⅱ fracture and 4 indefinitely diagnosed cases. Elbow extension disorder occurred in 13 cases, which was limited 30-70°. The elbow flexion was limited morethan 90°. X-ray films showed 10 nonunion and 3 malunion of fracture. The timefrominjury to operation was 32 to 81 days (56 days on average) in 12 cases and6 months in 1 case. All cases were treated by open reduction and internal fixation. One case was treated combined with implanting bone. Results After a follow-up of 3 to 8 years(5.4 years on average), no cubitus varus or valgus occurred.Five cases had growth disturbances of the lateral condyle of the distal humerus. The movement of these elbow joints improved from 40° to 70° (56° on average). The time of clinical bone union was 6 to 8 weeks and no nonunion and delayed union were observed in X-ray films. Conclusion It is important to accurately diagnose for treatment of lateral condyle fractures of the humerus in children so as to reduce the occurrence of malunion of fracture. It can save the joint function and reduce the cosmetic deformity effectively to operate as earlyas possible.
ObjectiveTo investigate the surgical procedures and results of nonunion of lateral humeral condyle fracture combined with cubitus valgus. MethodsBetween January 2006 and September 2011, 19 cases of nonunion of lateral humeral condyle fracture combined with cubitus valgus were treated with supracondylar closing wedge osteotomy, open reduction, autogenous bone grafting, and internal fixation. There were 11 males and 8 females, aged 14-28 years (mean, 21.6 years). The left side was involved in 7 cases, and the right side in 12 cases. The disease duration was 3-22 years (mean, 9 years). The osseous protuberance and enlargement were seen in the lateral condyle of all the cases, with cubitus valgus. Compared with the contralateral side, the angle of cubitus valgus deformity increased (34.00±7.68)° at the affected side. The elbow range of motion of flexion and extension was (117.35±19.77)° in the other 17 patients except 2 patients with joint stiff. Among them, 10 patients had limited mobility. Three patients had ulnar neuritis. ResultsAll the patients obtained primary healing of incision, and no surgery-related complication occurred. Nineteen patients were followed up 2-6 years (mean, 3.2 years). Bony union at lateral condylar fracture site and the supracondylar osteotomy site was achieved in all cases within 6 months postoperatively. In 3 patients with ulnar neuritis, the symptoms of nerve injury disappeared within 6 months. At last follow-up, the angle of cubitus valgus deformity increased (3.21±4.09)° at the affected side when compared with the contralateral side, showing significant difference when compared with preoperative angle (t=30.472, P=0.000). The range of motion of the elbow was 20° and 30° in 2 patients with joint stiff before operation; the elbow range of motion of flexion and extension was (117.64±15.72)° in the other 17 patients, showing no significant difference when compared with preoperative value (t=-0.180, P=0.859). According to the appearance of the elbow, range of motion, and complications, the overall results were classified as excellent in 9 patients, good in 8 patients, and poor in 2 patients; the excellent and good rate was 89.5%. ConclusionSupracondylar closing wedge osteotomy can correct the cubitus valgus deformity and improve the symptoms of ulnar neuritis. Open reduction, autogenous bone grafting, and internal fixation for nonunion of the lateral condyle can effectively stabilize the lateral condylar fracture and promote fracture healing.
Objective To compare the effectiveness of ultrasound- and arthrography-assisted Kirschner wire fixation in the treatment of Jakob type Ⅱ lateral condylar humerus fracture (LCHF) in children. Methods A clinical data of 101 children with Jakob type Ⅱ LCHF, who met the selection criteria and were admitted between April 2021 and April 2022, was retrospectively analyzed. Of them, 47 cases were treated with ultrasound-assisted Kirschner wire fixation (group A), and 54 cases with arthrography-assisted surgery (group B). There was no significant difference in gender, age, cause of injury, fracture side, and disease duration between groups (P>0.05). Intraoperative fluoroscopy times, operation time, and hospital stay, Flynn elbow joint function score, and postoperative complications were recorded and compared between groups. X-ray examination was performed to observe the healing of fracture, and measure the carrying angle and the shaft-condylar angle (SCA). ResultsThe success rate of closed reduction was significantly higher in group A than in group B (P<0.05), and the intraoperative fluoroscopy times was significantly less in group A than in group B (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in operation time and hospital stay between groups (P>0.05). All children in both groups were followed up 12-18 months, with an average of 13.6 months. X-ray reexamination showed that the fractures of both groups healed, and the difference in healing time was not significant (P>0.05). At last follow-up, there was no significant difference in carrying angle and SCA between unaffected side and affected side in both groups and between groups A and B in affected side (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in Flynn elbow joint function score between groups (P>0.05). There were 18 cases of lateral spurs formation in group A, 1 case of pinning infection and 26 cases of lateral spurs formation in group B, and there was no significant difference in the incidence of the above complications (P>0.05). ConclusionCompared with the arthrography, the ultrasound-assisted Kirschner wire fixation in the treatment of Jakob type Ⅱ LCHF in children can avoid the open reduction and decrease the number of intraoperative fluoroscopy, and obtain the good effectiveness.
ObjectiveTo compare the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided closed reduction and Kirschner wire fixation for different unstable humeral lateralcondylar fractures of children. Methods The clinical data of 94 children with unstable humeral lateralcondylar fractures admitted to three medical centers between January 2021 and October 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The children were divided into three groups according to the Song classification and whether the elbow joint was dislocated or not, including 42 cases of Song 4 type (group A), 38 cases of Song 5 type (group B), and 14 cases of elbow joint dislocation (group C). There was no significant difference in gender, age, side, cause of injury, and time from injury to operation among the three groups (P>0.05). All children were treated with ultrasound-guided closed reduction and Kirschner wire fixation. The operation time and complications of the three groups were recorded and compared, and the failure of closed reduction was evaluated by ultrasound. X-ray examination was performed at last follow-up to measure the Baumann angle, condylar angle, carrying angle, and lateral osteophyte of the affected side; the extension, flexion, pronation, and supination range of motion of the affected elbow joint were measured; the function of the elbow joint was evaluated by Mayo score. ResultsThe operation time in group A was significantly longer than that in groups B and C (P<0.05). There were 7, 2, and 5 cases of closed reduction failure in groups A, B, and C, respectively, and there was no significant difference in the incidence of the closed reduction failure (P>0.05). All patients were followed up 6-28 months, with an average of 15.7 months. There was no significant difference in the follow-up time among the three groups (P>0.05). Complications: in group A, there were 2 cases of delayed union, 4 cases of needle tract infection, 1 case of trochlear necrosis, and 39 cases of lateral osteophyte; in group B, there was 1 case of malunion, 5 cases of needle tract infection, 1 case of redisplacement, and 26 cases of lateral osteophyte; in group C, there were 2 cases of needle tract infection and 10 cases of lateral osteophyte. There was no significant difference in the incidence of complications among the three groups (P>0.05). No cubitus varus or cubitus valgus deformity was found in all patients. At last follow-up, except that the condylar angle in group A was significantly greater than that in groups B and C (P<0.05), there was no significant difference in other imaging indicators, elbow range of motion, or Mayo score between groups (P>0.05). ConclusionThe Song type 4 of humeral lateralcondylar fracture treated with ultrasound-guided closed reduction and Kirschner wire fixation has a longer operation time, more postoperative complications, and is more prone to lateral osteophyte.