Supracondylar osteotomy with Ilizarov fixation for elbow deformities in adults

Stable fixation after a corrective supracondylar osteotomy in adults is difficult because of the irregularity of the area of bony contact, displacement of the fragments, the predominance of cortical bone, and the need for early mobilisation. We have used the Ilizarov apparatus for fixation in 15 patients who were treated by complex osteotomies with displacement of fragments for cubitus varus or valgus. Most patients with cubitus varus required medial displacement with rotation of the distal fragment. Those with cubitus valgus required lateral shift of the distal fragment to reduce the medial prominence of the elbow that would otherwise result. All osteotomies united within the expected time without loss of correction, despite early mobilisation. Complications related to the fixation were few and had resolved at the long-term follow-up.