[Nonunion of the lateral humeral condyle--operative treatment, case report]

The nonunion of the lateral humeral condyle is the most important complication in course of the treatment of the fractures lateral humeral condyle. The cause of the occurrence is the articular liquid penetration to the fracture site, minor blood supply of the fractured fragment based only on the vessels penetrating from the metaphysis, insufficient immobilization period and fragment relocation. The operative treatment of a condyle nonunion previously was performed cautiously because of the high risk of the condyle necrosis and the mild nature of the deformity. The elbow with nonunion condyle is usefull and satisfactory even after bringing increasing valgus deformity and a high risk of the ulnar nerve neuropathy into consideration. A 7-YEAR-old boy with a condyle nonunion was treated operationaly. Operative procedure shouldn,t be prolonged for more than a year after the trauma because of the increased deformity and condyle remodelling. A Tahdjian technique was used. The operation focused on an intraarticular approach with an olecranon ostotomy for the avoidance of the vessels penetrating from the condyle metaphysis. After debridgement and cortical grafts filling of the nonunion site a Kirschner fixation combined with olecranon wire loop fixation were performed. Satisfactory results were achieved in a form of fragments union within six weeks of the surgery and the total range of motion of the elbow joint within 6 months of the operation. During the treatment no signs of the neurovascular complications were observed.