Osteochondritis dissecans of the medial humeral trochlea in a competitive tennis player: A rare case and surgical insight

Osteochondritis dissecans of the medial humeral trochlea is exceptionally rare, with no prior reports in tennis players. A 14-year-old elite female tennis athlete presented with 6 months of medial left elbow pain exacerbated by serving. Examination revealed tenderness over the humeroulnar joint and a mild extension deficit. Computed tomography identified a loose osteochondral fragment posteromedial to the trochlea. Fat-suppressed T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a hypointense line between the parent bone and fragment, leading to a diagnosis of osteochondritis dissecans. Surgery exposed and reattached the fragment using two 2.5 mm bone pegs. Radiographic union was achieved within 4 months, allowing a gradual return to serving. Six months after the surgery, she resumed unrestricted play. We performed bone-peg grafting for medial trochlear osteochondritis dissecans in a tennis player's elbow and achieved favorable outcomes.