Tardy ulnar nerve palsy in cubitus varus deformity associated with ulnar nerve dislocation in adults

Seven patients with tardy ulnar nerve palsy from a posttraumatic cubitus varus deformity were reviewed retrospectively. The severity of symptoms was grade I in 3 patients and grade II in 4 patients according to McGowan's classification. The mean internal rotation angle was 30.7 degrees (range, 25 degrees -45 degrees ). The most prominent feature was dislocation of the nerve anterior to the medial epicondyle and entrapment of the nerve by the fibrous band of the flexor carpi ulnaris muscle. Of these 7 patients, 4 were treated by 3-dimensional osteotomy with ulnar nerve transposition, and 3 were treated by anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve. All patients improved clinically, and there was no significant difference between anterior transposition of the nerve in the group with osteotomy and the group without osteotomy. Ulnar nerve instability due to internal rotation deformity and distal entrapment was considered to be the main cause of neuropathy.     

Severe tardy ulnar nerve palsy caused by traumatic cubitus valgus deformity: functional outcome of subcutaneous anterior transposition

Ten male patients with McGowan's grade III ulnar neuropathy due to traumatic cubitus valgus deformity underwent anterior subcutaneous ulnar transposition. Evaluation was performed using subjective and objective measures, and a modified Bishop score. After operation, subjective sensory and motor disturbances were improved or resolved in most of the patients, while objective measures improved less well. Improvement in two-point discrimination (2PD) was consistently associated with symptom relief. All of the patients reported satisfaction with the operation. There were no complications or recurrences. The results of ulnar nerve transposition in our patients were comparable to the results of this operation in patients with severe idiopathic cubital tunnel syndrome. Although the outcome of surgery is not always satisfactory in severe ulnar neuropathy, symptom relief may justify performing the operation.     

Dome corrective osteotomy for cubitus varus deformity

Between 1994 and 1998, 15 patients had corrective dome-shaped osteotomy of the humerus for posttraumatic cubitus varus deformity. Thirteen patients had surgery before puberty and two patients had surgery after puberty. In the prepuberty group, all the osteotomies were done by a posterior approach with triceps muscle splitting, and cross pins were used to fix the osteotomy. In the postpuberty group, the osteotomies were done by a posterior approach with olecranon osteotomy, and reconstructive plates were used for fixation. The average followup was 2 years and 4 months. Preoperative carrying angle ranged from 19 degrees to 31 degrees varus (average, 26.2 degrees) and postoperative carrying angle ranged from 7 degrees to 15 degrees valgus (average, 10.7 degrees). No loss of correction was observed and all osteotomies united. The preoperative and postoperative differences of the lateral condylar prominence index ranged from -67% to +6% (average, -30.1%). After reviewing these cases, a dome-shaped osteotomy was found to have the following advantages for correction of cubitus varus deformity: the osteotomy site is more stable than a lateral closing wedge osteotomy for maintaining the correction obtained; the domed osteotomy avoids having the lateral condyle becoming prominent; and the posterior scar is more cosmetically acceptable than the lateral scar in the lateral closing wedge osteotomy.     

Tardy posterolateral rotatory instability of the elbow due to cubitus varus

BACKGROUND: Cubitus varus has long been considered merely a cosmetic deformity. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate a causal relationship between cubitus varus and instability of the elbow. METHODS: In twenty-four patients (twenty-five limbs) with a cubitus varus deformity following a pediatric distal humeral fracture or resulting from a congenital anomaly (three limbs of two patients), tardy posterolateral rotatory instability of the elbow developed approximately two to three decades after the deformity occurred. All patients presented with lateral elbow pain and recurrent instability. The average varus deformity was 15 degrees (range, 0 degrees to 35 degrees ). Surgery was performed in twenty-one patients (twenty-two limbs). Treatment consisted of reconstruction of the lateral collateral ligament and osteotomy in seven limbs, ligament reconstruction alone in ten, osteotomy alone in four, and total elbow arthroplasty in one. RESULTS: In three patients, the triceps muscle was dynamically stimulated intraoperatively to contract while resisting extension of the elbow. This produced posterolateral rotatory subluxation of the elbow, which was reversed by corrective osteotomy and lateral transposition of a portion of the medial head of the triceps that originally had been attached to the elongated, deformed medial aspect of the olecranon. At an average of three years (minimum, one year) after the operation, the result was good or excellent for nineteen of the twenty-two limbs that had undergone an operation; three limbs had persistent instability. CONCLUSIONS: With cubitus varus, the mechanical axis, the olecranon, and the triceps line of pull are all displaced medially. The repetitive external rotation torque on the ulna permitted by these deformities can stretch the lateral collateral ligament complex and lead to posterolateral rotatory instability. Thus, cubitus varus deformity secondary to supracondylar malunion or congenital deformity of the distal part of the humerus may not always be a benign condition and may have important long-term clinical implications. Operative correction can relieve symptoms of instability. The indications for preventive corrective osteotomy remain to be determined.     

青少年肘内翻畸形的手术治疗

１临床资料１９８７～１９９６年采用肱骨髁上楔形截骨及２枚螺钉加“８”字形钢丝内固定治疗青少年肘内翻患者３３例。男２４例，女９例；年龄５～１５岁，平均９岁。均为外伤性肱骨髁上骨折致肘内翻畸形。手术治疗时间：６个月以内者１８例，１年以内者１５例。肘内翻角...     

Lateral closed wedge osteotomy for cubitus varus deformity

Background:

Lateral closed wedge (LCW) osteotomy is a commonly accepted method for the correction of the cubitus varus deformity. The fixation of osteotomy is required to prevent loss of correction achieved. The fixation of the osteotomy by the two screw and figure of eight wire is not stable enough to maintain the correction achieved during surgery. In this prospective study we supplemented the fixation by Kirschner''s (K-) wires for stable fixation and evaluated the results.

Materials and Methods:

Twenty-one cases of the cubitus varus deformity following supracondylar fractures of the humerus were operated by LCW osteotomy during February 2001 to June 2006. The mean age of the patients at the time of corrective surgery was 8.5 years (range 6.6-14 years). The osteotomy was fixed by two screws with figure of eight tension band wire between them and the fixation was supplemented by passing two to three K-wires from the lateral condyle engaging the proximal medial cortex through the osteotomy site.

Result:

The mean follow-up period was 2.5 years (range seven months to 3.4 years). The results were assessed as per Morrey criteria. Eighteen cases showed excellent results and three cases showed good results. Two cases had superficial pin tract infection.

Conclusion:

The additional fixation by K wires controls rotational forces effectively besides angulation and translation forces and maintains the correction achieved peroperatively.     

Supracondylar humeral osteotomy for traumatic childhood cubitus varus deformity

Between 1958 and 1983, 45 corrective supracondylar osteotomies of the humerus were performed for post-traumatic cubitus varus deformity in 43 children. The average follow-up period was two and one-half years. Excellent or good results were obtained in 33 patients. Unsatisfactory results were seen in 12. The operation, though deceptively simple, had a significant complication rate (24%), including neuropraxia, sepsis, and cosmetically unacceptable scarring. After these problems were analyzed, the important points of technique that were noted were a comprehensive preoperative plan and a simple lateral closing wedge osteotomy, leaving the medial cortex intact and ignoring rotational deformity.     

High ulnar nerve palsy caused by the arcade of struthers

A case of ulnar nerve entrapment neuropathy caused by the arcade of Struthers is reported. Nerve conduction studies showed a complete block and surgical decompression was successful.     

改良截骨治疗肘内翻畸形

目的 总结改良楔形截骨交叉克氏针加“8”字钢丝内固定治疗青少年肘内翻的临床效果。方法 对28例青少年肘内翻者行改良肱骨髁上楔形截骨、交叉克氏针固定加“8”字钢丝固定术治疗。结果随访6个月～3年,肘关节活动均恢复正常,术后提携角均在0°～10°,无肘内翻复发。结论 对青少年肘内翻采用改良楔形截骨交叉克氏针加“8”字钢丝固定术有利于截骨角度的控制、增加截骨面的接触面积、提高截骨端固定的稳定性,有利于骨愈合及早期功能锻炼。     

Supracondylar humeral osteotomy in children with severe posttraumatic cubitus varus deformity

The authors report the results of corrective osteotomy of the humerus in 11 children with severe posttraumatic cubitus varus deformity. The average carrying angle on the affected side was -24.4 degrees, and there was an average internal rotation deformity of the distal humerus of 22 degrees. Flexion and extension of the injured elbow were severely limited. A supracondylar lateral wedge osteotomy of the humerus was performed keeping the medial cortex intact. Two K-wires served as levers to correct the angular and rotational deformity of the elbow and then as fixation material to hold the osteotomy fragments. Postoperatively we immobilized the elbows in 90 degrees flexion for 3 to 4 weeks. There was no loss of the postoperative osteotomy alignment in most cases. Recurrence of mild varus deformity (-5 degrees and -7 degrees) occurred in only two patients. At the end of the follow-up we observed excellent results in 9 patients with an average carrying angle of 7.2 degrees (range 5-10 degrees).     

Prevention of cubitus varus deformity in supracondylar fractures of the humerus

Based on cadaveric experiments, peroperative observations and clinical study, an exact mechanism is described by which full pronation of the forearm prevents cubitus varus deformity in supracondylar fractures of the humerus. The significance of the position of the upper limb in relation to the chest is described, and it has been demonstrated that even the posterolaterally displaced supracondylar fractures are better reduced and maintained in pronation.     

成人创伤后肘内翻畸形的矫形及双柱固定

目的探讨肱骨髁上截骨双钢板固定治疗成人创伤后肘内翻的方法及疗效。方法回顾性分析2007年6月-2010年12月手术治疗22例成人创伤后肘内翻畸形患者的临床资料。其中男16例,女6例;年龄18～29岁,平均21岁。既往均有肱骨髁上骨折病史;初次骨折后3个月～1年,平均6个月出现肘内翻畸形;出现畸形后4～17年,平均8年入院手术。术前患侧肘关节提携角为肘内翻16～25°,平均20.6°。肘关节功能采用Flynn评分均为差。术中行肱骨外侧闭合楔形截骨,以2块重建钢板塑形后分别置于肱骨内外侧柱以固定截骨断端。术后无需外固定,早期行功能锻炼。结果术后切口均Ⅰ期愈合。22例均获随访,随访时间6～24个月,平均13个月。末次随访时患侧肘关节提携角为肘外翻0～10°,平均7.5°。患者截骨处均骨性愈合,愈合时间8～13周,平均10周。术后无感染,神经、血管损伤,内固定物松动、断裂等并发症发生,无肘内翻复发。末次随访时Flynn评分优17例,良3例,中2例,优良率91%。结论采用肱骨髁上截骨加双钢板固定治疗成人创伤后肘内翻畸形,固定坚强,骨折愈合率高,术后能早期功能锻炼,肘关节功能恢复满意。     

Supracondylar medial open wedge osteotomy with external fixation for cubitus varus deformity

BACKGROUND: Many surgical procedures are used for the correction of cubitus varus deformity in children. Even if the primary indication is cosmetic, but many poor results have been described. The technique of a supracondylar medial opening wedge osteotomy with external fixation is presented and preliminary results in four cases are reported. TECHNIQUE: An antero-medial approach is chosen with exposition and anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve. Under image intensifier control, insertion of four Schanz screws is performed from medial to lateral. In between, an incomplete medial osteotomy is performed obliquely (in the antero-posterior as well as in the medio-lateral plane), leaving a small part of the radial humeral cortex intact. The osteotomy is opened until varus and, if present, hyperextension deformation are corrected. Then, the fixator system is applied. RESULTS: All osteotomies healed primarily. Mean valgus correction of 21.75 degrees was achieved; in only one patient additional flexion modification of 17 degrees was necessary. At a follow-up of at least 2 years clinically three out of four presented symmetric elbow position, one slight residual varus deformity was noted in spite of 20 degrees of valgization due to important valgus position of the contralateral side. No lateral bulging of the corrected elbow was observed. CONCLUSION: The described technique is an alternative to other procedures, with special regard to the cosmetic outcome as well as to the control of correction for valgus and flexion.