Publication:

Evaluation of the results of cubitus varus deformity by stepcut osteotomy

Background A gunstock deformity or varus elbow is the commonest late deformity in supracondylar fractures of the humerus. The elbow is bowed outward making a bow elbow or cubitus varus deformity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the step cut osteotomy technique for correcting cubitus varus deformity following supracondylar fractures of the humerus

Methods This prospective observational study was conducted at the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR), Dhaka and 250 beded General Hospital, Kushtia, Bangladesh from July 2010 to June 2018.

Results The majority 36 patients (75% of total) were aged between 11 to 20 years, 8 patients (16.67% of total) were aged 10 years or younger and 4 patients (8.33% of total) were aged between 21 to 30 years respectively with female male ration 1:5. Majority 44 patients (91.67% of total) were students and 4 patients (8.33% of total) were workers respectively. Left side involvement was in 32 (66.67%) and right side in 16 (33.33%) cases. In our study 20 (42%) cases result was excellent, good in 16 (33%) cases and poor in 12 (25%) cases respectively.

Conclusions This study demonstrates that the corrective osteotomy of cubitus varus deformity using the stepcut technique is a satisfactory method of treatment.