Validation of minimally invasive articular cartilage sparing technique for olecranon osteotomy

Abstract

Background: The authors present a cadaveric validation of a minimally invasive articular cartilage preserving olecranon osteotomy technique for use in the operative management of distal humeral fractures.

Methods: Twenty-four elbows in six male and six female formaldehyde embalmed cadavers were dissected. With the cadaver placed in a lateral decubitus position, a posterior sub-periosteal dissection was performed to the medial and lateral aspects of the olecranon at the level of the joint and Mini Hohmann retractors were inserted into each side of the ulnohumeral joint. The medial (M) and the lateral (L) points where the retractors touch the articular surface were marked with a fine marker pen (Crown point) and a line drawn between the two points. The midpoint formed the apex of the chevron osteotomy. An osteotomy was performed and analysis of the osteotomy relative to the ulnar bare area (UBA) was undertaken.

Results: The distal boundary of the UBA can be reliably found at a distance of 4.8 ± 0.4 mm (females) and 5.4 ± 0.8 mm (males) distal to the Crown point using this technique.

Conclusion: Identifying the Crown of the olecranon articular surface is a reliable and accurate technique which identifies the ulnar bare area reproducibly for the safe performance of a cartilage sparing, and minimally invasive, olecranon osteotomy for the surgical management of distal humeral fractures.