Treatment of Ankylosis of the Elbow Secondary to Failed Osteosynthesis of Intra-Articular Distal Humerus Fracture / 대한정형외과학회잡지

ABSTRACT

A twenty-four-year-old patient presented with elbow ankylosis with a range of motion of 5° secondary to failed osteosynthesis 11 months after the internal fixation of an intra-articular distal humerus fracture. The computed tomography scan showed the impaction of the coronoid process into a comminuted fracture of the trochlea, as well as the presence of heterotopic ossification. Intra-articular osteotomy was performed and the range of motion was improved to 90° (20° to 110° flexion). Ten years postoperatively, the range of motion, and the distance in the ulnohumeral joint space, was preserved. In the case of elbow ankylosis secondary to the failed osteosynthesis of the intraarticular distal humerus fracture and malunions with cartilage injury, intra-articular corrective osteotomy may help achieve congruency even when the articular cartilage is damaged.