In thirty elbows that had an established non-union of a fracture of the
lateral humeral condyle that had occurred more than five years before,
treatment consisted of one of three operations: anterior transposition of
the ulnar nerve (nine patients), corrective osteotomy of the humerus and
anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve (four patients), or
osteosynthesis of the non-union combined with neurolysis and anterior
transposition of the ulnar nerve, with or without corrective osteotomy of
the humerus (seventeen patients). Of the thirty patients, fifteen had been
apprehensive when using the elbow, due to lateral instability, or had had
pain in the elbow. In thirteen of these fifteen patients, the non-union was
treated by osteosynthesis. Afterward, the pain and apprehension
disappeared, but the range of motion of the elbow decreased in all but
three patients. Three patients had clicking between the humerus and radius,
and the bone failed to unite in three others. Osteosynthesis is indicated
for the treatment of non-union of the lateral humeral condyle only if the
patient has serious pain in the elbow or apprehension when using the elbow,
due to lateral instability.