Left Elbow Exploration and Hardware Removal with Ulnar Nerve Decompression, Cubital Tunnel Release, and Anterior Subcutaneous Transposition of the Ulnar Nerve
Michael Akodu, MBBS; Elyse J. Berlinberg, MD; Miles Batty, MD; Michael McTague, MPH; Kiran J. Agarwal-Harding, MD, MPH
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Distal humeral fractures are injuries worldwide with operative fixation being the preferred method of treatment. Ulnar neuropathy is one of the possible complications of surgery, and may require an additional surgery to achieve symptom resolution. In this video, Dr. Agarwal-Harding manages a patient who was previously treated with open reduction and internal fixation of a distal humerus fracture, but his recovery was complicated by ulnar neuropathy. He performs an ulnar neurolysis, hardware removal from the medial column of the distal humerus, and anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve with an adipofascial flap. Surgical considerations, including rationale and treatment options, are discussed.
Elbow Arthroscopy (Cadaver)
Patrick Vavken, MD; Femke Claessen, MD
Smith and Nephew Endoscopy Laboratory
Elbow arthroscopy is a technically demanding procedure but it is very useful to evaluate the entire elbow joint for pathology with minimal surgical exposure and faster recovery than a traditional arthrotomy. The neurovascular structures of the elbow joint are in close proximity to the joint, thus there is a risk of injury to these structures, so care must be taken to fully understand elbow anatomy and to be prepared for aberrations. Elbow arthroscopy can be used diagnostically, as in this video article, or to surgically treat a variety of conditions including ligamentous tears, loose bodies, capsular stiffness, osteochondritis dissecans of the elbow, osteophyte debridement, and lateral epicondylitis. A patient with a previous ulnar nerve transposition is a relative contraindication to elbow arthroscopy, as there is a high risk of injury to the ulnar nerve during portal placement.
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