Abstract
The purpose of this study is to describe a surgical procedure for unstable osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) of the capitellum and its results.
Between 1992 and 1997, 11 elbows of 11 patients with OCD of the capitellum were treated in our institution. The average age at surgery was 14.7 years and the ages ranged from 12 to 16 years. All patients were male baseball players affected in the throwing side. The follow-up period was from 31 to 95 months (average: 57 months). All patients underwent internal fixation using the pull out wiring method and bone graft (this procedure was established by Kondo in 1989). All lesions of OCD were not only softening or cracked but also unstable with early separation or partially detached fragment. After surgery, a long arm cast was applied for 3 weeks. After confirming bony union of OCD by X-ray, the wires were removed ranged from 15 to 21 weeks (average 17 weeks) postoperatively. Throwing activity was allowed 6 months after surgery.
At the follow-up, all patients were relieved pain and all except one returned to previous throwing levels. Radiographs showed good healing of OCD and minimum degenerative changes were found in only a few joints.
We concluded that this surgical procedure was an effective treatment for adolescent baseball players with unstable OCD of the capitellum.
The abstracts were prepared by Professor Jegan Krishnan. Correspondence should be addressed to him at the Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park 5047, Australia.
