Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Capitellum Humeri: Surgical Treatment and Resuls

Ha, Kwon Ick; Hahn, Sung Ho; Chung, Min Young; Yoo, Soon Yeol

Abstract

Osteochondritis dissecans of the capitellum is a condition which causes pain and limitation of motion in the elbow joint. Conservative management can be done in the early stage, but operative method is indicated when conservative treatment failed or loose bodies causing symptoms developed. The authors experienced 20 cases of osteochondritis dissecans of the capitellum, which received satisfatory surgical treatment, such as 1) removal of loose body, 2) removal of loose body, curettage, and multiple drilling, 3) curettage and multiple drilling at the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, National Police Hospital, from January, 1985 to August 1989. Following results were obtained. 1. The occupations were baseball players in 5 cases (25%), gymnast in 4 csses (20%), tennis player in 1 case (5 %), which implicates repetitive trauma or excessive use of the elbow joint as a cause of osteochondritis dissecans of the capitellum. 2. The main symptoms were pain in all cases(100%), limitation of range of moiton(70%), locking(25%), swelling of the joint, and clicks on range of motion in decreasing order. 3. Of the 20 cases, removal of loose bodies was performed in 13 cases(65%), removal of loose bodies, curettage, and multiple drilling in 4 cases (20%), and curettage and multiple drilling in the remaining 3 cases (15%), And follow-up results were excellent in 16 cases (80%), good in 3 cases (15%), and moderate in 1 case (5%). So, we concluded that the above surgical measurements are good enough to give satisfactory results for osteochondritis dissecans of the capitellum.