CUBITUS VARUS - SIGNIFICANT FACTORS

For better understanding of the etiology of ''post-supracondylar fract ure cubitus varus,'' an in vitro anatomic experiment was performed. El bow models were precisely photographed in 256 combinations of 10-degre es increments of varus angulation, posterior angulation, internal rota tion, and/or flexion contracture. Varus angulation was the most import ant single factor contributing to deformity. Addition of flexion contr acture or posterior angulation to a given varus angulation decreased a pparent deformity, whereas addition of internal rotation worsened the deformity. Control of varus angulation in the clinical setting, by wha tever method, should minimize post-supracondylar fracture cubitus varu s.