Osteochondritis dissecans of the elbow. A long-term follow-up study.

Thirty-one patients with osteochondritis dissecans of the capitellum humeri were followed for an average of 23 years. There were symptoms in about half of the elbows at the follow-up examination. Impaired motion and pain on effort were the most common complaints. Roentgenographic signs of degenerative joint disease were present in more than half of the elbows and correlated with a reduced range of motion. The diameter of the radial head increased in comparison with the contralateral elbow in two thirds of the patients.