Effects of Three Dimensional Corrective Osteotomy in Cubitus Varus of Adults / 대한정형외과학회잡지

ABSTRACT

Cubitus varus is a complex three-dimentsional deformity. In addition to deformity on varus-valgus plane, internal torsion of distal humerus is frequently combined. Also limitation of flexion-extension could be associated in some patients. Surgical correction of the cubitus varus after skeletal maturity, could have some different clinical course from those of growing children. However there have been few papers dealing with the surgical treatment of cubitus varus in adults. From May 1988 to December 1993, 23 patients who were older than 17 years of age, had correc- tive osteotomy for cubitus varus considering its three planes of the deformity at Seoul National University Hospital. To prevent serpentine deformity medial displacement of distal fragment was also combined during operation. The avereage age was 26 years(17-47), and the average follow-up after the operation was 1 year and 6 months(6 months-3 years). The presumed diagnosis of initial injury deduced from history and preoperative radiograms, was supracondylar fracture in 19 cases(86.4%). Others were lateral condylar fracture of humerus in two, and fractures associated with elbow dislocation in two. The average age at the time of initial injury was 8 years(2-14), and average delay from occurrence of deformity to the operation, were 13 years. Tardy ulnar nerve palsy was associated in 3 cases(13.6%). The preoperative average angle of cubitus varus was 26 degrees(16-45), flexion contracture 11 degrees(-5