Open reduction and internal fixation for OTA/AO-C open and closed fractures of distal humerus / 中华创伤骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To compare the clinical outcomes between OTA/AO-C open and closed fractures of the distal humerus treated by open reduction and internal fixation.Methods:The clinical data were retrospectively analyzed of the 70 patients who had been treated at Department of Traumatology and Orthopedics, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital for OTA/AO-C fractures of the distal humerus from January 2014 to June 2017. Of them, 22 suffered from open fractures (Gustilo types Ⅰ/Ⅱ) and 48 closed fractures. There were 18 males and 4 females with an age of (42.6±13.0) years in the open group and 21 males and 27 females with an age of (42.2±17.1) years in the closed group. Analyzed were interval from injury to surgery, hospitalization time, injury energy and functional outcomes which included range of motion (ROM) in elbow flexion and extension, ROM in elbow rotation, Mayo elbow performance score (MEPS), Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH), complications and rate of secondary surgery.Results:There was no significant difference between the 2 groups in age, injury energy or interval from injury to surgery ( P>0.05), but there were significantly more males in the open group than in the closed group ( P=0.011). The follow-up time for all the patients averaged 34.0 months (from 25 to 54 months). There were no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups in hospitalization time [9.5(6.0, 13.0) d versus 8.5 (6.0, 11.0) d], ROM in flexion and extension [120.0° (100.0°, 137.8°) versus 128.5° (110.0°, 140.0°)], ROM in rotation [155.0° (151.3°, 155.0°) versus 155.0° (155.0°, 155.0°)], MEPS [95.0 (80.0, 100.0) versus 95.0 (80.0, 100.0)] or DASH [2.6 (0.63, 9.2) versus 1.7 (0.0, 8.5)] ( P>0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups either in rate of secondary surgery [36.4% (8/22) versus 33.3% (16/48)], ulnar nerve symptoms [54.5% (12/22) versus 60.4% (29/48)], local irritability in the region of internal fixation [9.1% (2/22) versus 6.3% (3/48)] or elbow stiffness [13.6% (3/22) versus 10.4% (5/48)] ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Open reduction and internal fixation can lead to similar clinical outcomes in the treatment of both open (Gustilo types Ⅰ/Ⅱ) and closed distal humeral fractures of OTA/AO-C, with no significant differences in postoperative ROM, functional scores or complications.