Arthroscopic Fragment Resection for Capitellar Osteochondritis Dissecans in Adolescent Athletes: 5- to 12-Year Follow-up:

Background:Capitellar osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) in skeletally immature athletes has often been seen in baseball players and gymnasts. The choice of surgical procedure for unstable lesions in skeletally immature athletes remains controversial.Purpose:To investigate functional outcomes and radiographic changes in the midterm to long-term postoperative period after arthroscopic (AS) resection for small to large capitellar OCD lesions in skeletally immature athletes.Study Design:Case series; Level of evidence, 4.Methods:A total of 38 elbows in 38 patients (33 boys, 5 girls; mean age, 14 years [range, 13-15 years]) with skeletally immature elbows underwent AS resection for capitellar OCD. Patients were observed for at least 5 years (mean, 8 years [range, 5-12 years]). Elbows with a lesion width that did not exceed one-half of the radial head diameter were assigned to group 1 (n = 17 elbows), and larger lesions were assigned to group 2 (n = 21 elbows). Functional scores, patient satisfaction, range of mot...