Dome osteotomy using the paratricipital (triceps-sparing) approach for cubitus varus deformity in children

a surgical technique to avoid lateral condylar prominence

Abstract

Twenty patients (11 males and nine females) with cubitus varus deformity were treated with corrective dome osteotomy through the paratricipital approach. Patients presented after an average 3 years of appearance of the deformity. The average age of the patients was 8.5 years (range 6–14 years). All patients had a previous history of supracondylar fracture. Preoperatively, carrying angle, lateral condylar prominent index, and range of motion were recorded. There were no intraoperative complications. Postoperatively, three patients developed a superficial skin infection. No patient had unsightly scarring or a prominent lateral condyle. No patient reported pain, motor weakness, or atrophy of the arm musculature. There was no fixation failure or loss of correction during the healing stage and no revision surgery was needed. The results were graded according to the preoperative and postoperative carrying angle, movement of flexion and extension, and lateral condylar prominence index and they were evaluated statistically. Preoperative and postoperative extension, carrying angle, and lateral condylar prominence index were statistically significant. Corrective dome osteotomy using the paratricipital approach seems to be a reliable technique for correction of cubitus varus in children. The procedure is relatively simple and enables correction of the deformity without inducing lateral condylar prominence.