Resurfacing arthroplasty as an alternative to the posttraumatic sequelae of fractures of the external column of the humerus in the young adult.

Symptomatic posttraumatic arthritis of the elbow in young patients is a disorder for which there is currently no satisfactory solution. In this case report we show the evolution of a comminuted fracture of the capitellum with trochlear extension (McKee typeIV) treated initially with open reduction and internal fixation that eventually required a resurfacing hemiarthroplasty of the capitellum and reconstruction of the lateral ligament complex. After this surgical procedure, the patient had evident improvement of pain and of elbow range of motion, keeping the possibility of performing other rescue techniques open if they were to be necessary in the future.