title: Posterior elbow release and humeral osteotomy for patients with arthrogryposis.
abstract: Children with arthrogryposis often lack the ability to feed themselves, largely due to limited shoulder external rotation and elbow flexion. Patients who can achieve passive elbow flexion through a surgical release but who cannot externally rotate their shoulders are still unable to reach their mouths with their hands. Combining a posterior elbow capsular release with a simultaneous humeral osteotomy in these patients places the forearm and hand in a much better position for function with minimal additional surgical exposure.
authors.affiliation: Temple University School of Medicine, Shriners Hospital for Children, Philadelphia, PA, USA. dzlotolow@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Dan A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Zlotolow
authors.forename: Scott H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kozin
mesh_terms: D001176:Arthrogryposis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001858:Bone Nails; D002370:Casts, Surgical; D002648:Child; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D006811:Humerus / Q000601:surgery*; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000379:methods*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular