Supracondylar fracture of the humerus: malrotation versus cubitus varus deformity

A study correlating the degree of medial rotational deformity of the distal humerus and the degree of cubitus varus deformity secondary to supracondylar fracture was performed in 23 patients who underwent corrective supracondylar osteotomy. The mean age of the patients at the time of operation was 10.9 years (range 5-14 years). The time interval from injury to operation averaged 3.2 years (range 1-6 years). A medial rotational deformity occurred in 20 cases. The degree of medial rotational deformity (MRD) averaged 16.2 degrees (range 0-34 degrees). Mean carrying angles (CA) of the deformed and normal sides were -19.6 degrees and 6.5 degrees, respectively. Mean humero-elbow-wrist (HEW) angles, measured from radiographs, of the deformed and normal sides, were -18.8 degrees and 7.7 degrees, respectively. There was no correlation between the degree of MRD and the degree of varus deformity, using as a comparison either the CA or the HEW angle of the deformed elbow or their differences from the normal side.