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.
