Bilateral Capitellum Humeri Fracture; a Case Report

Abstract

This is the report of a 33-year-old female patient who was admitted to the Emergency Department with bilateral capitellum humerus fracture after a fall from a height. The patient was surgically treated with open reduction and internal fixation for both elbows, with 3 Kirschner wires on the right elbow and one mini-fragment screw on the left. Surgical intervention was carried out in emergency conditions. Following an early physical rehabilitation programme at the end of the 1^st week, the roentgenograms in the 9^th week showed acceptable bone union. However, in the 2^nd year of follow-up the patient had consistent pain and 35 degrees of flexion loss in her right elbow due to degenerative change. The literature reveals only two reports of such cases. Thus, this rare case of bilateral capitellum humerus showed that early mobilisation after anatomic reduction and stable fixation with a mini-screw provided the optimal outcome.

Key Words:

• Capitellum
• Fracture
• Humerus
• elbow trauma.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

O. Polat

O. Polat, Assist. Prof. Emergency Department Ankara University, Faculty of Medicine Ibni Sina Hospital 06100 Ankara, Turkey Tel.: [phone] Fax: [phone] E mail: [email protected]@medicine.ankara.edu.tr