title: Short-term clinical results of arthroscopic osteochondral fixation for elbow osteochondritis dissecans in teenaged baseball players.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Reports regarding arthroscopic fixation of the osteochondral fragments for elbow osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) are few. This study assessed the clinical outcomes of arthroscopic fixation of unstable osteochondral fragments by using absorbable pins over a postoperative period of at least 1 year.
  
  
  METHODS
  The patients were 13 adolescent baseball players with a mean age of 14 years (range, 12-16 years) who underwent OCD of primary lesions at International Cartilage Repair Society grades III and IV. The patients were evaluated by using validated outcome measures at a mean follow-up period of 24 months (range, 12-50 months).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean (standard deviation) score in the disability/symptom section of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand improved from 12.4 (6.0) before the surgery to 0.5 (1.2) after the surgery, and the sports section improved from 74.5 (25.4) to 1.4 (5.2). The mean (standard deviation) extension improved from -11° (10.8) to -2° (3.9; P < .001). The mean (SD) flexion improved from 129° (11.6) to 137° (5.6; P = .040). All patients were able to resume playing baseball, and 9 (69%) resumed playing at the same position as before their injuries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The clinical results of arthroscopic osteochondral fragment fixation in the teenaged baseball players with elbow OCD, albeit obtained over only a short period, were favorable. This arthroscopic treatment enables repair of lesions and is considered appropriate for unstable OCD during the adolescent growth spurt.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Ehime University, Toon, Ehime, Japan.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Takeba
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Ehime University, Toon, Ehime, Japan. Electronic address: takahast@m.ehime-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Toshiaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Ehime University, Toon, Ehime, Japan.
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Ehime University, Toon, Ehime, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Imai
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Ehime University, Toon, Ehime, Japan.
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kikuchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Ehime University, Toon, Ehime, Japan.
authors.forename: Kensuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Umakoshi
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Ehime University, Toon, Ehime, Japan.
authors.forename: Hironori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Ehime University, Toon, Ehime, Japan.
authors.forename: Muneaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ohshita
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Ehime University, Toon, Ehime, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiromasa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miura
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Ehime University, Toon, Ehime, Japan.
authors.forename: Mayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aibiki
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001182:Arthroscopy; D001484:Baseball; D001858:Bone Nails; D002648:Child; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010008:Osteochondritis Dissecans / Q000601:surgery*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D000068958:Return to Sport
keywords: Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD); arthroscopic surgery; baseball; elbow; osteochondral fixation