Osteochondropathy of the coronoid process of the ulna in a child: case report

Full Text

Introduction

Osteochondropathies are disorders of the apophyses and epiphyses of tubular bones and spongy substance of short bones in children; these are characterized by slow aseptic necrosis of ossification nuclei and destruction of bone shape, leading to deformity of the affected segment of the limb, impaired function, and then complete loss of function [1].

Previous studies have distinguished four groups of osteochondropathies: epiphysiopathy of long tubular bones, lesion of short trabecular bones, lesion of apophyses, and partial osteochondropathies of articular surfaces. According to S.A. Reinberg (1964), osteochondropathies occur in five stages, and two or three stages can manifest in parallel, suggesting a certain conventionality of the radiographic staging process and variety of clinical manifestations [1, 2].

Notably, more than 200 osteochondropathies of different localizations have been described. Therefore, Nilsson (1921), Gass (1921), and Panner (1929) described rare osteochondropathies of the proximal and distal epiphyses of the upper arm bone, and in 1982, D. Capla and J. Kundrát presented a case of osteochondropathy of the ulnar process in a child. However, lesion of the coronoid process of the ulna has not been described [3].

Considering that osteochondropathies can be of different localizations, we reviewed domestic and foreign studies on diseases of aseptic genesis of the coronoid process in children as well as their therapeutic approach and diagnostics. In addition, to cover a large number of descriptions in the foreign literature, such as in PubMed, we also searched for osteochondropathy of the ulna. The result of our search was negative, and we did not find a description or reference to osteochondropathy of the coronoid process of the ulna in  children.

Given that that lesion of the coronary process in children is a rare, we decided to present the clinical case of osteochondropathy of the coronoid process in a child, which, in our opinion, clearly demonstrates the atypical localization of this disease.

Clinical case

The patient was a 16-year-old boy who was a professional water polo player for eight years. Since 2014 (age 14), the patient started to suffer from pain in the elbow-joint area, but there was no history of trauma, and the patient did not seek treatment. Since 2016, the pain intensity in the left elbow-joint region increased; he reported swelling in the left elbow joint and restriction of the left elbow-joint extension. Due to increased complaints, the patient presented to the Turner Scientific and Research Institute for Children’s Orthopedics. He and his parents voluntarily signed an informed consent for the processing of personal data, examinations, and surgical intervention.

On examination, pain was noted during palpation of the medial sections of the elbow joints, region of the coronoid process, and joint space (more expressed on the left), and there was a restriction of extension in the left elbow joint to 170°–175° (acute pain syndrome). Bending and rotation were not impaired.

Radiography and computed tomography were performed (Figures 1–3). An aseptic necrosis was detected in the region of the tubercle of the coronary process in the fragmentation stage.

 

Fig. 1. Radiograph of the left elbow joint. Fragmentation stage of the region of the coronoid process tubercle

 

Fig. 2. Computed tomography of the left ulnar process and fragmentation stage of the region of the coronoid process tubercle

 

Fig. 3. Computed tomography in 3D mode

 

Osteochondropathy of the coronoid process of the left elbow joint, contracture, and pain syndrome were diagnosed based on examination results.

Given that the patient had engaged in sports and there was marked pain syndrome, ectomy of a fragment of the coronoid process was performed (Figure 4).

 

Fig. 4. Anterior–posterior radiograph of the left elbow joint after the surgery

 

At follow-up after six months, the patient did not have any complaints, the left elbow joint was fully movable, and weight bearing was painless. Lateral stability of the elbow joint was not  impaired.

Discussion

Diagnosis of osteochondropathy of the coronary process was based on the radiological investigation, and differential diagnosis ruled out the fracture. Moreover, we performed the examinations due to impaired development of the anterior ulnar bone, with an additional bone formation of the coronoid process [1, 2, 4], which was also not revealed.

Conclusion

The presented clinical case of osteochondropathy of the coronoid process of the ulna demonstrates a variety of topical bone injuries and unpredictability of the localization of aseptic osteonecrosis in children.

Funding and conflict of interest

The work was conducted according to the guidelines and with the support of the Turner Scientific and Research Institute for Children’s Orthopedics of the Ministry of Health of  Russia.

The authors declare no obvious and potential conflicts of interest related to the publication of this article.

About the authors

Maxim S. Nikitin

The Turner Scientific Research Institute for Children’s Orthopedics

Author for correspondence.
Email: yar-2011@list.ru

MD, Orthopedic Surgeon of the Department of Trauma Effects and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Russian Federation, 64, Parkovaya str., Saint-Petersburg, Pushkin, 196603

Yaroslav N. Proshchenko

The Turner Scientific Research Institute for Children’s Orthopedics

Email: yar-2011@list.ru

MD, PhD, Research Associate of the Department of Trauma Effects and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Russian Federation, 64, Parkovaya str., Saint-Petersburg, Pushkin, 196603

References

Supplementary files