protocol for management of cubitus valgus secondary to non-united fractures of the lateral condyle of the humerus

ABSTRACT

This study included eighteen patients with cubitus valgus secondary to non-united fractures of the lateral condyle of the humerus. Ulnar nerve decompression by simple release at the elbow was done in 14 patients, with corrective osteotomy in 8 patients and as a single procedure in 6 patients. Anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve was performed in four patients with corrective osteotomy [two cases] and as a single procedure [two cases]. In one patient, ulnar nerve transposition was done as a secondary procedure after the failure of simple nerve release to relieve all the symptoms of ulnar neuropathy. Thus, corrective osteotomy was done in ten patients, the procedure used was the opening wedge displacement osteotomy. All the patients showed satisfactory results regarding neurological symptoms as well as the correction of deformity and elbow joint pain and stability. The elbow joint range of movements was reduced from 10 to 25 degrees in four cases, however the functional outcome was accepted by the patients