Post-traumatic stiffness and malunion after supracondylar humerus fracture in an adolescent patient

The following case illustrates a high degree of post-traumatic complexity due to the malunion of the distal humerus and osteophyte formation with bony block in motion. This was the sequela of a supracondylar humerus fracture on a patient who was close to skeletal maturity. Flexion extension was from 45 to 90 degrees. An attempt for arthroscopic osteoplasty was performed which was unsuccessful because there was no joint space. Conversion to open surgery was chosen. According to the technique described by Hill Hastings, MD we performed osteoplasty of the elbow. Through a medial and lateral elbow approach osteoplasty of the humerus was performed, resection of osteophytes from the anterior compartment, anterior capsular release and release of the posterior and transverse band of the medial collateral ligament. Flexion improved to 110 degrees extension to 20 degrees.  The ulnar nerve was transposed.

After the osteoplasty range of motion improved significantly, especially in elbow flexion. The terminal extension was still compromised with a loss of 30 degrees of terminal extension.

Terrible triad injury. The importance of the LCL complex

Terrible triad injuries are high energy traumatic events to the elbow which are associated with significant soft tissue trauma. The following case illustrates an obese patient who suffered such an injury. The elbow was severely unstable while the weight of the arm was contributing to the instability as well. During surgery the following "inside to outside" algorithm for fixation is used. Fixation begins with the deep structures and we move superficially through a lateral approach. The sequence is the following;

1. Assessment of the coronoid fracture - if large fragment then fixation with sutures or with a screw is indicated

2. Radial head replacement

3. Primary repair of the lateral collateral ligament complex using bone tunnels at the humerus and no anchors. We avoid use of anchors that increase the risk of infection

If the elbow is stable after following the above 3 steps then repair of the medial collateral ligament complex is not indicated. In this case the MCL was ruptured as well however the elbow was stable after the completion of step 3 as illustrated above.

If the elbow is unstable after completion of the above 3 steps then the MCL is repaired. If still unstable then a static external fixator is applied for 6 weeks.

Key points for success of treatment are (a) avoidance of overstuffing of the joint by undersizing the prosthetic radial heads (b) stable fixation of the lateral collateral ligament in the acute setting with a Krackow suturing method. A common mistake is use of large radial prosthetic head "for better stability". Large heads increase the change of subluxation, pain and stiffness.  The illustration below indicates the importance of anatomic stable fixation of the LCL using the Krackow method.

trauma films

first reduction was unsuccessful due to inadequate flexion of the elbow and weight of the arm.

Second attempt was successful in close reduction

Undersized the radial head implant is important. One method of assessing potential overstuffing of the joint is the following:

"Incongruity of the medial ulnohumeral joint which becomes apparent radiographically only after overlengthening of the radius by ≥6 mm. Intraoperative visualization of a gap in the lateral ulnohumeral joint is a reliable indicator of overlengthening following the insertion of a radial head prosthesis". We also use the congruency of the proximal radioulnar joint surface line as an indicator of appropriate height of the prosthesis. No step off should be seen.

Sprengel Deformity in adulthood -

This is a complex congenital condition which most of the time is associated with other syndromes or congenital defects. An alternative term used to describe this condition is scapula elevata. Patients may have a cosmetic deformity with a "high riding" scapula which is "hypomobile" and there is some degree of scapula winging. In severe forms of the disease there is a omovertebra bone with joint like connection between the cervical spine and the medial border of the scapula. 

There are authors who have described good results after surgical intervention when the condition is diagnosed before the age of 6 . The main problem in this clinical condition is restricted range of shoulder motion. Most of the time forward elevation and abduction is limited, due to loss of the scapular motion or scapulohumeral rhythm as described by Codman in the 1930s. 

When the loss of motion is minimal then surgery is usually contra-indicated. Associated syndromes such as Klippel Feil syndrome or other syndromes may compromise surgical care of this condition. 

The following case illustrates a patient who present with the condition in adulthood and had no treatment before. The fused upper ribs and deformed thoracic cage indicate in this situation the failure of the scapula to decent during development. Associated hypoplasia of the affected scapula is not uncommon. 

The forward elevation of the shoulder in the following case was around 100 degrees and for that reason no surgery was offered.