Treatment of Intercondylar Fractures of Humerus with Y-plate

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the results of the treatment of intercondylar fractures of the humerus using Y-plate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The subjects were 17 patients with intercondylar fracture of humerus who were treated using the Y-plate. Nine cases were C1 type, 4 were C2 type, and the remaining 4 were C3 type. 11 subjects had accompanying fractures of another part of the body. The average age was 48.8. The average follow up period was 33 months. We used Mayo Elbow Performance Score and Risborough-Radin's rating score for each patient as the methods of rating. RESULTS: The average range of motion of the elbow was 105 degrees (50~150 degrees). According to Cassebaum's classification for elbow range of motion, 7 cases were rated very good, 1 cases were good, 4 cases were fair, and 1 cases were poor. According to Mayo Elbow Performance Score, 7 were excellent, 7 were good, 2 fair, and 1 poor. Of the 3 patients who were fair or poor in Mayo Elbow Performance Score, 2 were type C3 fractures, and all 3 had major accompanying fractures. No significant postoperative complications developed in all cases. CONCLUSION: The fixation with Y-plate can still be a relatively good modality of treatment for interconylar fractures of the humerus in selected cases, in spite of the known mechanical weakness of the Y-plate. The patients with severe intra-articular comminution showed relatively poor results. And we think that the age of the patient and the energy of the injury have more or less influence on the results of treatment.