Arthroscopic surgery for isolated capitellar osteochondritis dissecans in adolescent baseball players: minimum three-year follow-up.
BACKGROUND
Osteochondritis dissecans of the capitellum of the humerus usually occurs in adolescence and is caused by the valgus forces associated with excessive throwing.


OBJECTIVE
Arthroscopic surgery is an appropriate procedure for this condition.


METHODS
Retrospective cohort study.


METHODS
Arthroscopic surgery was performed on 10 baseball players (average age, 13.8 years) with osteochondritis dissecans whose symptoms had been apparent for an average of 9 months before the operation. Follow-up at an average of 3.9 years included use of a standard rating scale, radiographs, and a questionnaire regarding return to sport.


RESULTS
There were two grade I, one grade II, two grade IV, and five grade V lesions. Symptoms and objective findings correlated poorly with the grade of the lesion. The postoperative score averaged 195, reflecting excellent results. Radiographically, the primary lesion was still apparent in one patient, secondary degenerative changes were evident in one patient, and, in one patient, the lesion was still evident and degenerative changes had occurred. Only four athletes returned to organized baseball.


CONCLUSIONS
Arthroscopic surgery for symptomatic osteochondritis dissecans of the capitellum in adolescent baseball players can provide excellent rating scores with intermediate follow-up but does not assure return to baseball.
Nashville Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37203, USA.
J W Thomas
JW
Byrd
Kay S
KS
Jones
D000293:Adolescent; D001484:Baseball / Q000293:injuries*; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006811:Humerus; D008297:Male; D010008:Osteochondritis Dissecans / Q000601:surgery*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012189:Retrospective Studies