Comparison of single versus double plate fixation in inter and supracondylar fractures of distal humerus in adults

ABSTRACT

To compare the outcome of supracondylar and intercondylar fractures of humerus treated by single and double plates. Comparative study. This study was conducted in the Department of Orthopaedics, Lahore General Hospital, Lahore and Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Hayatabad Medical Complex Peshawar. Thirty patients of intercondylar and supracondylar fractures of distal humerus were divided randomly into two groups. Fifteen cases were managed by single plate and K wire and 15 cases by bicondylar plate fixation. All patients were operated through posterior transolecranon approach. Elbow exercises were started at second postoperative day. Patients were followed at two weeks and thereafter monthly, with clinical examination and x-rays. The mean age of the patients was 40.3 years. The healing time was sixteen weeks in both the groups. The final grading of the results showed better resulted with double plate fixation with excellent to good results in 13 [86.6%] and fair to poor in 2 [13.3%]. The outcome in single plate was excellent to good in 6 [40%] and fair to poor in 9 [60%]. The results of dual plate fixation is better than single plate fixation in intercondylar and supracondylar fractures of humerus