Treatment outcome of tardy ulnar nerve palsy associated with traumatic cubitus valgus by supracondylar shortening wedge rotary osteotomy and ulnar nerve in situ tension release

Massive traumatic articular bone loss of the capitulum humeri treated by costal osteochondral autograft reconstruction: A case report

INTRODUCTION

Articular traumatic bone loss is a severe condition with heterogeneous outcomes, often necessitating complex technical solutions and posing challenges in managing both bone and cartilage loss. Thus, some surgeons have used a technique of osteochondral autograft using a rib to fix an articular bone loss to manage both of these tissue losses.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

We present the case of a 25-years-old patient, who had a complex open elbow injury. He presented an association of a terrible triad of the elbow injury with an open traumatic bone loss of the capitulum humeri and unfixable lesion of the lateral collateral ligament complex of the elbow. We initially managed these lesions with an external fixator for 2 months followed by a reconstruction of the capitulum humeri using a costal osteochondral autograft. Unfortunately, the patient was lost to follow-up after the 1 month post-operative consultation but he had some encouraging results.

DISCUSSION

In this case report, we describe our technique using an osteochondral autograft to address complex bone and cartilaginous losses, thereby expanding the treatment options available to trauma surgeons.

CONCLUSION

This case report shows that a reconstruction of the capitellum humeri for a traumatic bone loss with an osteochondral autograft using the eighth rib can be easily performed. More generally, this technique could even help to manage complex traumatic substance loss of both bone and cartilage in other locations.

Functional outcome of tardy ulnar nerve palsy manifests after 25 years due to nonunion of lateral epicondyle left humerus treated by ulnar nerve transposition: A case report

INTRODUCTION

Tardy ulnar nerve palsy is a chronic clinical condition characterized by delayed-onset ulnar neuropathy.

CASE PRESENTATION

Male 36 years old with 5 years clawing left ring and little finger, weakness of intrinsic muscle and grip, and paresthesia on ulnar nerve distribution. There was a history of elbow trauma 30 years ago. The radiological finding is a non-union of the lateral condyle without significant valgus. Intraoperatively, an intact ulnar nerve was discovered with no significant fibrous tissue. The author performed anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve. After 6 months, there is improvement in power and sensibility, with the quick dash score decreasing from 18 to 6.

DISCUSSION

Any increase in a valgus deformity at the elbow joint would lead to stretching of the nerve resulting in neuropraxia. On this case we found there is slight valgus deformity, but there is malunion of lateral epicondyle that causes incongruency of elbow joint that will lead to chronic impingement ulnar nerve. The patient work as officer working in front of computer typing for hours and sometimes lifting heavy objects. These activities irritate ulnar nerve on incongruent joint which causes tardy ulnar nerve palsy. The treatment of choice is ulnar nerve transposition.

CONCLUSION

The treatment of choice is anterior ulnar transposition. Any condition that impairs the anatomical structure of the elbow joint can cause ulnar nerve palsy. From this case, we also learn that it is not necessary to correct bone deformity or stabilize the non-union condyle if there is no significant deformity.