Seven Elbows With Panner Disease Yielded Favorable Sports Return and Remodeling After Nonoperative Treatment.

BACKGROUND

Panner disease is a condition characterized by osteochondrosis of the humeral capitellum. Because of its rarity, clinical outcomes, including return to sports, have not been well described in previous studies.

PURPOSE

To investigate the clinical and radiographic outcomes after nonoperative treatment of elbows affected by Panner disease.

STUDY DESIGN

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

METHODS

The inclusion criteria for this study were as follows: (1) elbows diagnosed with Panner disease between January 2007 and March 2021, and (2) elbows in patients who were followed until clinical and radiographic healing was confirmed. Patient background (sports participation, familial smoking, steroid use, and bone age), symptoms, radiographic findings, and outcomes after nonoperative treatment were analyzed.

RESULTS

Seven elbows in 7 patients (5 boys and 2 girls; 4 gymnasts and 3 baseball players) were included. The mean age at the initial examination was 10 years (range, 7-11 years), and bone age was younger than the chronological age in 3 patients (43%). All patients were treated nonoperatively with a mean follow-up of 37 months (range, 14-109 months). At the initial examination, all patients experienced elbow pain, and a limited range of motion was observed in 4 patients (57%). Familial smoking was reported in 2 patients (29%), and steroid use in 1 patient (14%). After a mean of 7 months (range, 2-15 months) of overhead motion restriction and cessation of upper extremity loading, all patients returned to sports at a mean of 15 months (range, 10-24 months). Complete healing of the epiphyseal nucleus of the capitellum was observed at a mean of 12 months (range, 10-18 months).

CONCLUSION

Nonoperative treatment for Panner disease resulted in favorable outcomes in 7 patients. All patients fully returned to sports with well-remodeled capitella.