ABSTRACT
Objective: To evaluate the clinical effcacy of the modiifed anterolateral minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis technique for distal humeral shaft fracture, and to explore its feasibility, security, advantage and disadvantage. Methods: hTe clinical effcacy of 17 patients with distal humeral shatf fracture, who were treated with the anterolateral humerus minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis during 2009 to 2012, were retrospectively analyzed. hTe operative time, bleeding volume, complications, esseous union time and range of motion (ROM) of elbow were recorded, and the functional outcome of elbow joint was evaluated by Mayo elbow performance score (MEPs). The varus angle was measured in the malunion patients atfer the distal humeral shatf fracture healed. Results: All of the 17 patients obtained bony union at an average of 19.2 weeks postoperatively, an average of 4.5 screwes were inserted in distal humerus. hTe mean ROM of elbows was 133° and the MEPS were 98.2. Seven patients suffered humeral malalignment and the mean varus degrees were 8.3°. Conclusion: hTe technique of anterolateral humerus minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis is safe and feasible for distal humeral shatf, and the satisfactory clinical outcomes can be obtained by this modiifed technique. However, some of the patients may appear malunion with varus angulation of humerus.