Abstract
The cases of eight patients (5 women, 3 men) who had an comminuted fracture of the distal end of the humerus treated between 1999 and 2002 in the authors’ hospital were reviewed retrospectively, Their average age was 37 years (range, 23 to 59 years). The average range of follow-up periods was 13 months (range, 8 to 20 months). Using the AO classification system, 1 fracture was classified as type C1, 4 were type C2, 3 were type C3. The operative procedures included were percutaneous pinning (1 case), open reduction and internal fixation (screw+wire, 1 case, screw+Tension Band Wiring, 3 cases, screw+plate, 2 cases). The average period of postoperative external immobilization was 7 weeks (range, 1 to 8 weeks). The average postoperative range of motion, was -19 degrees of extension (range, -40 to 15), and flexion was 116 degrees (range, 90 to 125). The average Japanese Orthopedic Association score (JOA score) at final follow-up was 84.2 points (range, 73 to 91). The clinical results of such cases in our hospital was comparable to the results of other hospitals.
We consider that rigid internal fixation and early rehabilitation are necessary to obtain good clinical results.
