Rower Recovers from Olecranon ORIF
Chief Complaint: Olecranon Fracture Reed, an active 69 year-old male rower, went walking in a rocky jungle in Belize when he slipped and fell landing hard on the point of his left elbow. His
Dr. Rudzki’s interest in the elbow began while working with Dr. George Paletta of the St. Louis Cardinals and Drs. Ken Yamaguchi and Leesa Galatz of Washington University in St. Louis. As a co-author of several book chapters and review articles on juvenile and adolescent elbow injuries and a team physician working with the Mets and Nationals, Dr. Rudzki cultivated a high level of interest in the treatment of elbow injuries in the overhead athlete. Simultaneously, his trauma background at Barnes Hospital led to further interest in the treatment of sports-related traumatic fractures about the elbow. Following his residency in St. Louis and introduction to baseball with the St. Louis Cardinals, Dr. Rudzki studied under the world-renowned Dr. David Altchek of the Hospital for Special Surgery, a pioneer in the treatment of elbow injuries in overhead athletes.
Chief Complaint/Injury of International Fracture Patient
41 yr-old, Right-Hand Dominant male presents from Africa with a right humeral non-union approximately 15 years after initial motorcycle injury with 3 prior surgeries (Open Reduction Internal Fixation with a plate; then 2 subsequent hardware removals for infection) and a radial nerve injury.
Workup/Images of Complex Humeral Nonunion
X-rays reveal a nonunion of the right humeral mid-shaft with resorption and remodeling as well as old screw holes from prior plate fixation which failed with infection. Physical exam reveals gross instability at the fracture site which gives him a “double-elbow” and prevents him from having any significant functional use of his dominant right upper extremity.
Surgery
As a team approach with our hand, wrist, and nerve specialist, Dr. Richard Barth, the patient’s radial nerve is dissected free and the fracture debrided. Bone graft is take from his pelvis to augment the biology and healing potential of the fracture nonunion and stable fixation is obtained with a humeral locking plate.
Result
The fracture goes on to union and the patient is able to return to his life in Africa with a regained ability to participate in desired activities of daily living to support his family.
Dr. Rudzki sees several international patients each month from across the globe. These include diplomats, family members of foreign dignitaries, Peace Corps volunteers, Catholic Charities patients, and soldiers from several nations. Many of these patients come for consultations and surgical treatment of complex orthopaedic issues. For further information, please contact [javascript protected email address]
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