Curative effect of open reduction and internal fixation for capitellum and trochlea fractures / 中华创伤杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the curative effect of open reduction and internal fixation for capitellum and trochlea fractures.Methods A retrospective case series study was performed on 14 patients with capitellum and trochlea fractures without involving lateral and lateral column treated by open reduction and internal fixation from April 2008 to August 2016.There were four males and 10 females, aged from 24 to 62 years (mean, 41.4 years).Dubberley classification was type ⅠA in four patients, type ⅠB in three, type ⅡA in two, type ⅡB in one, type ⅢA in two, type ⅢB in two.Three patients were combined with ipsilateral capitulum radius fractures, and one patient with ipsilateral ulna olecranon fracture.Visual analogue scale (VAS) for elbow pain, elbow activity and Mayo elbow performance score (MEPS) were evaluated.Postoperative complications were also observed.Results All patients were followed up for 24-55 months (mean, 27.2 months).Fracture healed after (21.3±2.1)weeks.VAS was (2.1±1.9) points at 24 months postoperatively, with painless in three patients, mild pain in seven and moderate pain in four.Elbow flexion and extension angle was (93.4±15.2)°, elbow flexion angle was (114.3±11.1)°, elbow extension angle was (33.6±20.7)°, forearm front rotation angle was (75.2±12.5)°, and forearm back rotation angle was (83.2±8.2)°.No patients had elbow instability, ischemic necrosis or internal fixation loosening.MEPS was (74.2±17.8)points, including excellent results in 3 cases, good in 8, fair in 2 and poor in 1.One case of Dubberley type ⅢA developed mild ulnar nerve symptom and alleviated after 3 months.Five cases (two type ⅢA, one type ⅢB, one type ⅡA, one type ⅡB) had a small amount of heterotopic ossification 6 month after operation, but elbow flexion and extension activity was good.One case of Dubberley type ⅢB combined with fracture of the olecranon process had elbow heterotopic ossification 1 month after operation, further developed large displaced ossification around the elbow 6 months after operation, and showed elbow flexion and extension of 30° 2 years after operation that was significantly limited compared to the contralateral side.Conclusion Open reduction and internal fixation of capitellum and trochlea fractures can improve elbow activity and reduce incidence of postoperative complication.