Abstract
There is still some controversy about the treatment of nonunion of the lateral humeral condyle in children. Twelve patients with symptomatic long standing nonunion of the lateral humeral condyle were treated by internal fixation with iliac bone graft. The age range of the patients 8 years to 25 years. There were 10 males and 2 females. The time from the original fracture to nonunion ranged from 2 years 6 months to 13 years averaging 6 years 3 months.
The indication for surgery was pain and deformity and weakness in elbow. Follow up ranged from 16 months to 6 years averaging 32 months. Bony union was achieved in all cases. Strength of the elbow were restored in all cases. All patients were painfree in the elbow strenuous activities. Postoperative elbow motion was decreased in four patients with an average loss of 10.5 degree of the motion present before surgery. The valgus deformity was improved. Surgical osteosynthesis for long standing nonunion of the lateral humeral condyle is recommendable method.
The abstracts were prepared by Professor Jegan Krishnan. Correspondence should be addressed to him at the Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park 5047, Australia.
