Intra-articular corrective osteotomy for the malunited intercondylar humeral fracture: a case report

A 35-year-old patient sustained comminuted intercondylar fracture of the distal humerus. At six months post-open reduction and internal fixation, the malunion was corrected with an intra-articular osteotomy. The patient obtained a painless, functional elbow joint with increased grip strength after corrective osteotomy, although she had complained of severe elbow pain, limited range of motion, and loss of grip strength before osteotomy. A 15 degrees cubitus varus deformity was also corrected . Radiographs of the elbow joint did not show accelerated degenerative changes at over three years follow-up post-corrective osteotomy. Intra-articular corrective osteotomy should be considered as a salvage procedure for the treatment of a malunited intercondylar humeral fracture, especially in patients who are thought to be too young for elbow arthroplasty.