© The Authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2023

Introduction

Fractures around the elbow are the most common fractures in pediatric populations, with an incidence of about 28.4% of all pediatric fractures. These fractures carry the risk of several disabling complications, including neurovascular injuries, cubitus valgus/varus deformities, Volkmann’s contractures, nonunion, and ulnar nerve palsies [1].

Humeral lateral condyle fractures are known for nonunion. If early proper management is not achieved, they can lead to a cubitus valgus malalignment. In neglected or mismanaged cases with deformity and limited range of motion, surgical management is challenging, and a well-tailored preoperative plan is required [2].

Lately presented fracture of the lateral condyle humerus in pediatrics is a surgical dilemma. The decision of fixation or corrective osteotomies and ulnar nerve transposition or sometimes both procedures combined is a controversial topic [3].

The incidence of satisfactory outcomes measured by functional elbow scores decreases with the increase of the time from injury. A satisfactory result can be anticipated in the first 5 weeks, this declines toward the 12th week, and afterward, the results significantly deteriorate [4].

The aim of an effective management plan includes anatomical reduction – especially of the articular surface – and rigid fixation allowing early motion. One of the major difficulties a treating surgeon faces in reconstruction is a proper reduction of the lateral condyle, especially when there is major bone loss. These challenging bone voids can be managed using a tricortical iliac crest graft to achieve an appropriate reconstruction of the lateral condyle [5].

Several treatment procedures have been described such as distal humerus osteotomy (dome osteotomy, varus osteotomy, or open wedge Milch’s displacement osteotomy), or to go for open reduction, filling the defect with bone graft, and fixation either by screws or K-wires [6].

For the time being, few studies have addressed the use of autologous iliac bone grafts for the management of neglected lateral humeral condyle in pediatrics.

Aim of the work

This study aims to evaluate the reconstruction of a non-united lateral humerus condylar fracture complicated by cubitus valgus using a tricortical iliac crest graft in pediatric patients, regarding restoring elbow alignment, range of motion, and function.

Patients and methods

In the period from August 2021 and April 2023, a prospective case study was conducted including 20 cases (7 females and 13 males). Patients’ ages had a mean of 7.85 (6–11) years. Patients were referred from the outpatient clinic of the orthopedic surgery department, suffering from cubitus valgus as a complication of a non-united fracture of the lateral humeral condyle. The mean interval between the lateral condyle fracture and the presentation was 22 (18–29) weeks.

This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Helwan University. Informed consent was taken from each patient’s parent or legal guardian after explaining the steps of the procedure, its anticipated benefits, potential complications, and follow-up regimen.

The comparison between preoperative and postoperative data was done by using a Paired t-test. The p-value was considered significant as the following: p > 0.05 = non-significant, p < 0.05 = significant, p < 0.001 = highly significant (HS).

Demographic data are listed in Table 1, and radio-clinical data are listed in Table 2.

Inclusion criteria include patients with cubitus valgus due to non-united fracture of the lateral humeral condyle, both sexes with age less than 12 years while exclusion criteria include cubitus valgus due to other causes, fractures not needing grafts, previous elbow operations, and cubitus valgus with infected nonunion and unhealthy skin coverage.

A proper preoperative evaluation was performed for all patients, this included history taking, examination, and radiographs. The examination included assessment and recording of the neurovascular status and soft tissue evaluation (Figures 1 and 2).

Figure 1 Preoperative X-ray and clinical photo of case no. (1).

Figure 2 Preoperative X-ray and clinical photo of case no. (3).

The elbow function was scored using the Mayo elbow performance index (MEPI) (Table 3) [6].

The radiological examination included anteroposterior, lateral, and oblique plain radiographs of the elbow. Comparison radiographs of the contralateral elbow were done to help better understand the geometry of the fracture. These radiographs are used to measure the Baumann’s angle and humeroulnar angle. The size and shape of the tricortical iliac graft were provisionally determined according to the radiographs.

Informed consent was taken from the patient’s parent or legal guardian after thoroughly discussing the steps of the procedure, the possible complications, the anticipated outcomes, and the postoperative rehabilitation regimen.

Surgical procedure

General anesthesia was used for all patients. One dose of prophylactic antibiotic was given 30 minutes before the incision. Kocher incision was used after the application of a tourniquet. Proper exposure of the defect site was done and the remaining lateral condyle fragment was identified. The proximal fracture site was nibbled to obtain a fresh bleeding surface. A tricortical bone graft was harvested from the ipsilateral iliac crest with the shape and size requirement, and then finely shaped and adjusted to fill the defect between the humeral metaphysis and the remaining fragment.

K-wires were applied to temporarily fix the lateral condyle fragment and the graft to the humerus. The image intensifier was used to check the size and position of the graft and accordingly, any adjustments were made until we achieved the most satisfying reduction and elbow alignment we can achieve.

K-wires were then replaced by 4 mm partially threaded canulated screws for more stable fixation and compression. The wound was closed in layers and a protective above-elbow posterior slab was applied.

Postoperative care and evaluation

The posterior slab was removed after 3 weeks, and a pouch arm sling was used to allow the patient to start active assisted elbow motion. Serial X-rays were done to assess the union and to make sure that the alignment was preserved. After complete radiological union, the patients were assessed for elbow range of motion and alignment, and MEPI was calculated (Figures 3 and 4).

Figure 3 Early postoperative X-ray and 6-month postoperative clinical photo of case no. (1) (left elbow).

Figure 4 Postoperative X-ray and 7-month postoperative clinical photo of case no. (3) (right elbow).

Results

Regarding alignment, the average preoperative humeroulnar angle was 30° ± 7.78°, which improved postoperatively to an average of 9° ± 2.38°. There was a highly statistically significant difference between preoperative and postoperative humeroulnar angle. (Fig 5)

Figure 5 The difference between the average preoperative and postoperative humeroulnar angle.

The average elbow range of motion improved significantly from preoperative 103° ± 8.94° to a postoperative range of 119.25° ± 9.22°. This was calculated as a highly statistically significant difference.

All patients had poor elbow function preoperatively with an MEPI of less than 60. That improved significantly at the last follow-up. The average preoperative MEPI was 51.25 ± 6.46 points, which improved in a highly statistically significant way to reach an average MEPI of 78 ± 6.77 points at the last follow-up. All cases reach full union from 2 to 4 months postoperatively.

Regarding complications, one patient suffered from a superficial wound infection of the iliac graft donner site, he received antibiotics and frequent wound dressings, and the infection resolved with no need for wound debridement.

Another patient suffered from a limited range of motion of the elbow. The child and his parents were not satisfied with the final outcome but his parents decided that they were not going to address the problem any further for the time being.

Discussion

Cubitus valgus deformity, as a subsequence of lateral humeral condyle nonunion, is one of the most intolerable complications [8]. The valgus deformity that occurs as a complication of nonunion is due to the leaking of synovial fluid into the fracture site, which inhibits fibrin formation, leading to the formation of a secondary callus [9].

The main limitations of this study are the limited number of patients, the relatively short follow-up period, and the absence of comparison with other management options.

The short-term results of this study show significant improvement in postoperative elbow alignment and range of motion, which in return leads to improvement in the overall elbow function which was calculated by the MEPI.

Open reduction and internal fixation for such neglected fractures give the opportunity to refresh the fracture ends, remove any soft tissue obstacles and excessive callus, and fill the residual gap with the proper sized and shaped autograft.

Applying a tricortical bone graft allowed for the restoration of elbow alignment and enhancement of bone healing. Screw fixation – compared to K-wires fixation – allowed for an early beginning of elbow range of motion exercises which may have contributed to the improvement of the final elbow function. None of the patients needed ulnar nerve transposition.

Approximately 50% of all cases of non-unions in pediatrics are around the elbow joint [10]. Fracture of the lateral humeral condyle in children is unfortunately neglected frequently. This could be explained by the difficult clinical and radiological diagnosis [11].

The best management of neglected non-united lateral humeral condyle fracture in pediatrics is still a debatable issue. The less-than-optimal results of operative management hindered its popularity. The risk of avascular necrosis of the lateral condyle, reducing the already limited elbow range of motion, and deterioration of the elbow function are some of the most serious concerns. Still, the best management of lateral humeral condyle fracture is early diagnosis and treatment [12].

Despite that avascular necrosis is a feared complication of open reduction, we luckily did not encounter this problem. We tried to minimize the soft tissue dissection as possible especially at the posterolateral part of the lateral condyle to preserve its blood supply.

One case suffered from a superficial infection at the incision of the iliac crest graft, donor site morbidity is a potential complication of autologous bone graft, but the condition improved after treatment with antibiotics and frequent dressing.

Although most cases had a significant improvement in elbow range of motion, one case did not. We did not find an obvious cause for this as the reduction was accepted, the alignment was restored and there was no evidence of heterotropic ossification. The child’s parents refused to continue physiotherapy or do more investigations and dropped the follow-up after 5 months.

Conclusion

Open reduction, screw fixation, and reconstruction by the autologous tricortical iliac bone graft is an effective technique for the management of cubitus valgus due to neglected non-united lateral humeral condyle fractures in pediatrics, taking into consideration that precise preoperative planning, careful soft tissue handling, and well-planned postoperative rehabilitation program are of outmost importance to avoid complications and restore elbow function.

Conflicts of interest

All authors of this study declare they have no conflicts of interest.

Funding

This research did not receive any specific funding.

Ethical approval

This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Helwan University.

Informed consent

Informed consent was taken from each patient’s parent or legal guardian after explaining the steps of the procedure, its anticipated benefits, potential complications, and follow-up regimen.

Authors’ contributions

Mohammed H. Hashem: Writing, reviewing, editing.

Ahmed Ramy: Visualization.

Mohamed H. Fadel: Methodology.

References

All Tables

All Figures

	Figure 1 Preoperative X-ray and clinical photo of case no. (1).
In the text

	Figure 2 Preoperative X-ray and clinical photo of case no. (3).
In the text

	Figure 3 Early postoperative X-ray and 6-month postoperative clinical photo of case no. (1) (left elbow).
In the text

	Figure 4 Postoperative X-ray and 7-month postoperative clinical photo of case no. (3) (right elbow).
In the text

	Figure 5 The difference between the average preoperative and postoperative humeroulnar angle.
In the text