Lateral Closing Wedge Supracondylar Osteotomy of the Humerus in Children with Cubitus Varus Deformity

Abstract

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness, cosmetic and functional improvement of a supracondylar lateral closing wedge osteotomy of the humerus as a treatment for cubitus varus deformity in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-eight children with cubitus varus underwent a lateral closing wedge osteotomy, and were followed up for at least 1 year. RESULTS: There were no complications such as a loss of correction, infection, or neurapraxia. The immediate postoperative lateral condylar prominence and secondary lazy S deformity was in proportion to the preoperative severity of the cubitus varus. However, it was lower at the last follow-up, and was related to the extent of preoperative cubitus varus, length of follow-up and age. CONCLUSION: A supracondylar lateral closing wedge osteotomy of humerus is an easy and effective surgical treatment for a posttraumatic cubitus varus of children. In addition, it shows good cosmetic results with good remodeling of the lateral condylar prominence of children.