1.Surgical treatment of lateral condylar fracture of the humerus combined with lateral dislocation of the elbow in adults
Shijun ZHAO ; Wei ZHANG ; Xiang LI ; Ruobin SUN ; Aiguo WANG
Chinese Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma 2024;26(11):997-1001
Objective:To explore the surgical treatment of lateral condylar fracture of the humerus combined with lateral dislocation of the elbow in adults.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the 8 patients who had been treated at Department of Orthopaedic Trauma, Zhengzhou Orthopaedic Hospital for lateral condylar fracture of the humerus combined with lateral dislocation of the elbow from June 2020 to June 2023. There were 3 males and 5 females, with an age of (50.1±12.3) years. All the lateral condylar fractures of the humerus combined with lateral dislocations were treated by open reduction and internal fixation after swelling subsided. Flexion and extension of the elbow and rotation of the forearm were recorded at the last follow-up. Mayo elbow function score (MEPS) was used to evaluate the functional recovery of the elbow.Results:Elbow dislocation was corrected in 2 patients after rectification, but the elbow subluxation still existed because the displacement of the humeral lateral condyle was not reduced. The elbow dislocation still existed in 6 patients because it was difficult to maintain the correction of the dislocation after manual reduction. Follow-ups were conducted for 12.0 (12.0, 18.8) months. At the last follow-up, the flexion-extension was 85.6°±20.3°, rotation 133.1°±24.0°, and MEPS (91.9±8.0) points. The joint stability was significantly improved in the 8 patients compared with that before operation. Obvious pain was reported in none of the patients, and their joint limitation was acceptable.Conclusions:In adults, lateral condylar fracture of the humerus combined with lateral dislocation of the elbow is rare in clinic. Surgical treatment of the condition can achieve satisfactory clinical outcomes, but elbow dysfunction and limited rotation of the forearm may occur in the affected limb.