ABSTRACT
Many types of osteotomy have been proposed for the treatment of cubitus varus deformity of the elbow, and various methods for fixation of the osteotomy site have also been described. However, no method has been perfect. We treated two cases of cubitus varus elbow deformity with step-cut osteotomy using a new fixation method with two crossing screws and an anatomically designed locking plate. Active assisted elbow range of motion (ROM) exercise was permitted at postoperative 3 days, after removal of the drainage. Preoperative and postoperative humerus-elbow-wrist angles and ranges of motion of the two patients were compared. At 3 months follow-up, each patient had recovered the preoperative elbow ROM, and achieved the complete bony union of the osteotomy site and proper correction of the cubitus varus deformity. In addition, the appropriate remodeling of the lateral bony protrusion was observed. Therefore, we introduce a new fixation method for achievement of stable fixation allowing immediate postoperative elbow motion after corrective osteotomy for cubitus varus deformity in young adults.
Subject(s)
Humans , Young Adult , Congenital Abnormalities , Drainage , Elbow , Follow-Up Studies , Osteotomy , Range of Motion, ArticularABSTRACT
Many types of osteotomy have been proposed for the treatment of cubitus varus deformity of the elbow, and various methods for fixation of the osteotomy site have also been described. However, no method has been perfect. We treated two cases of cubitus varus elbow deformity with step-cut osteotomy using a new fixation method with two crossing screws and an anatomically designed locking plate. Active assisted elbow range of motion (ROM) exercise was permitted at postoperative 3 days, after removal of the drainage. Preoperative and postoperative humerus-elbow-wrist angles and ranges of motion of the two patients were compared. At 3 months follow-up, each patient had recovered the preoperative elbow ROM, and achieved the complete bony union of the osteotomy site and proper correction of the cubitus varus deformity. In addition, the appropriate remodeling of the lateral bony protrusion was observed. Therefore, we introduce a new fixation method for achievement of stable fixation allowing immediate postoperative elbow motion after corrective osteotomy for cubitus varus deformity in young adults.