Efficacy evaluation of combined anterior and posterior elbow approach and posterior median elbow approach for treatment of O'Driscoll type III b fracture of ulnar coronoid process / 中华创伤杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To compare the clinical effect of combined anterior and posterior approach and posterior median approach to treat O'Driscoll type III b fracture of ulnar coronoid process.Methods:A retrospective case control study was made on 67 patients with O'Driscoll type III b fracture of ulnar coronoid process treated in Honghui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University from January 2015 to January 2019, including 35 males and 32 females, aged from 21 to 61 years [(38.0±9.4)years]. Among them, 31 patients were treated with combined anterior and posterior approach for reduction and internal fixation (combined approach group), and 36 patients with median posterior elbow approach group for reduction and internal fixation (posterior elbow approach group). The operation time, amount of intraoperative blood loss and fracture healing time were compared between groups. The visual analogue score (VAS), elbow joint range of motion and Mayo elbow performance score (MEPS) were assessed for pain and function evaluation at postoperative 1, 3, 6 months and at the last follow-up. The occurrence of complications were observed as well.Results:All patients were followed up for 12 to 28 months [(20.1±4.2)months]. There was no significant difference in operation time and VAS between the two groups ( P>0.05). The intraoperative blood loss [(133.6±20.3)ml] and fracture healing time [(12.3±1.7)months] in combined approach group were less or shorter than those in posterior elbow approach group [(144.4±22.1)ml, (13.2±2.0)months] ( P<0.05). The range of flexion and extension of elbow joint in combined approach group [(88.7±10.8)°, (111.1±13.9)°, (121.3±14.1)°, (127.1±13.3)°] was higher than that in posterior elbow approach group [(74.5±11.8)°, (97.6±12.6)°, (111.3±13.0)°, (115.2±12.7)°] at postoperative 1, 3, 6 months and at the last follow-up ( P<0.05). The MEPS in combined approach group [(31.7±8.6)points, (55.6±9.3)points, (84.6±10.5)points, (85.0±10.3)points] was higher than that in posterior elbow approach group [(27.2±8.2)points, (50.7±8.7)points, (77.4±11.2)points, (80.1±9.4)points] at postoperative 1, 3, 6 months and last follow-up ( P<0.05). The incidence of complications in combined approach group [10%(3/31)] was lower than that in posterior elbow approach group [31%(11/36)]( P<0.05). Conclusion:Compared with the simple posterior elbow median approach, the combined anterior and posterior elbow approach for treatment of O'Driscoll type IIIb fracture of ulnar coronoid process has lower intraoperative blood loss, faster fracture healing, lower incidence of complications and better elbow function.