Secondary radial head dislocation and dysplasia of the lateral condyle after elbow trauma in children

We report five cases of a rare complication of childhood fractures of the e lbow region. The complication consists of posttraumatic dissolution of the lateral humeral condyle followed by secondary radial head overgrowth and di slocation, The initial injuries ranged from displaced lateral condyle fract ures (three patients) to a supracondylar fracture and an open elbow disloca tion. Dysplasia of the lateral humeral condyle was first noted I to 4 years after the trauma (mean? 2.5 years) and seemed to be caused by removal of t he displaced fracture fragment in one patient, and possibly by malfixation and repeated surgical procedures in the others. Because of loss of motion, ulnar nerve irritation, and cosmetic deformities, corrective osteotomies ha d to be performed in four patients and additional radial head removal in tw o patients.