The treatment and its results of type C fractures of distal humerus / 中华骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the surgical management and its results of type C fractures of distal humerus. Methods From January 1997 to November 2002, 30 patients of type C fractures of distal humerus were treated surgically. There were 11 males and 19 females with mean age of 41 years (range 16-67 years). Thirteen fractures occurred in left extremity and 17 in the right. Nine patients suffered open fracture, including Custilo typeⅠfracture in 5, and typeⅡin 4 cases. Twenty-one patients suffered closed fracture. The fracture were caused by falling injury in 21 cases, by traffic accident in 7 cases and by another cause in 2 cases. Associated injuries included distal fracture of radius in 2 cases, fracture of rib in 1 case, and fracture of surgical neck of humerus in 1 case. According to AO/ASIF classification, type C1 fracture was found in 4 cases, type C2 in 14 cases and type C3 in 12 cases. Of the 30 patients, 21 cases were operated with the approach of extra-articular osteotomy of olecranon, and 9 cases with the approach of liguliform flap of musculus triceps brachii. The fractures were reduced and fixed with dual-plates(DP) in 17 cases, and double tension bands(DTB) in 13 cases. The operation was performed in 0-17 days after injury with mean 7 days. Clinical data were recorded and reviewed retrospectively according to the surgical approach, operating time, amount of bleeding, types of internal fixation, function of the elbow and the complications. Results All the patients were followed up, with the duration from 6 to 62 months(mean, 28.5 months). The function of the elbow was evaluated according to Morrey's scale, the results showed excellent in 23 cases, good in 4 cases, and poor in 3 cases. Conclusion The modified approach of extra-articular osteotomy of olecranon provide sufficient exposure without injury of articular surface, and the osteotomy healed easily with long-term stability. The type C fractures of distal humerus should be fixed with DP or DTB for two column fixation. DTB provide a new sufficient internal fixation with simple technical procedure, shortening operation time, less bleeding and reliable stability with similar results compared with DP fixation.