Treatment of Intercondylar Fracture of Distal Humerus in Adult

PURPOSE: To evaluate and report the clinical results of the treatment of distal humerus intercondylar fractures treated with internal fixation through the modified posterior approach. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 1999 to October 2003, 20 patient who had intercondyle fracture of the distal humerus treated with internal fixation through the modified posterior approach. We evaluated bone union, complication, postoperative elbow function. RESULTS: The average follow up period was 12.8 months. Nearly all most cases united at 14 weeks in an average. There were two neuropraxia and two hardware failure. The range of the elbow joint motion was flexion contracture 8 degree (5~15 degree) to further flextion 120 degree (75~140 degree) in average. The functional result with Riseborough and Radin's functional scale were as follows; 13 good, 4 fair, 3 poor. CONCLUSION: Not with severe comminuted like type C3 fracture, but in cases with intercondylar distal humerus fracture the modified posterior approach provided satisfactory exposure for open reduction and rigid internal fixation with satisfactory bone union. There was satisfactory bone union and good clinical result in postoperative elbow function.

Heel Pad Thickness: Measurement by Simple Plain Radiography / 대한족부족관절학회지

PURPOSE: The heel fat pad has a unique structure that is important for its shock absorbing function. Loss of elasticity and change in the thickness of the heel pad have been suggested as cause of heel pain. The present study shows the relationship between the thickness of heel fat pad and age, sex, obesity and plantar heel pain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A study of heel pad thickness using plain lateral radiographs, unloaded by body weight, was carried out on 66 patients with plantar heel pain and 326 normal subjects. The population was divided into two or three groups according to their age, sex, body mass index, and the presence of symptom. We evaluated the differences in heel pad thickness between groups, and the relationship between BMI and Sex and Age was also determined, using statistically analytic method by SPSS version 10.1 program. RESULTS: Heel pad thickness was greater in the subject over 40 years old (p<0.001), and in the overweight (p<0.001), and male heel pad was thicker than female (p<0.001). But there was no statistically significant difference for heel pad thickness between normal subject and plantar heel pain group. CONCLUSION: In this study, we found that there is a relationship between heel pad thickness and age, sex, and obesity. But we could not show that the difference of heel pad thickness is contributing factor to plantar heel pain. Although it could not be proved statistically, we believe that a change of heel pad thickness play a role in the development of heel pain. So we are planning to assess a relationship of heel pad elasticity and thickness and plantar heel pain again with prospective study method on the basis of the results of this study.