Titanium alloy implant fixation for senile distal humeral fractures:feasibility and effectiveness / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:It has a certain difficulty in the clinical treatment of distal humeral fractures in elderly people. According to the particularity of elderly patients, during clinical treatment of senile distal humeral fracture, conservative treatment or the metal implant internal fixation remains controversial. OBJECTIVE:To explore the feasibility and effectiveness of metal implants for the repair of senile distal humeral fractures. METHODS:A total of 35 hospitalized elderly patients with distal humeral fracture in Beijing Renhe Hospital from September 2008 to September 2013 were studied. 19 cases were given titanium implant fixation (experimental group), 16 cases were given conventional conservative treatment (control group). RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Total y 35 patients were fol owed up. In the experimental group, elbow joint function was excel ent in eight cases and good in four cases, with total excel ent and good rate of 63%. The excel ent and good rate was significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group (31%;P<0.05). In the experimental group, three patients suffered from infection of incisional wound, and two patients experienced sensory anesthesia of ulnar nerve innervation area. They had recovered after symptomatic treatment. No nonunion of fracture or loosening of fixator appeared. These suggest that metal implant for senile distal humeral fracture obtained good outcomes, and showed feasibility and effectiveness.