Surgical Treatment of the Frontal Plane Distal Humerus Fractures

Abstract

The frontal plane fractures of the distal humerus are rare. The small intraarticular fragments, the commonly encountered osteoporosis and the specific anatomy make the successful osteosynthesis a challenge.

For a period of 15 years in First Clinic of Orthopaedic Traumatology 27 patients with capitulotrochlear fractures were treated. Of them, 12 women and 3 men were followed. The fractures were classified after Dubberley as follows: Type 1А - 1, type 2А - 2, type 2В - 3, type 3А - 5, type 3В – 1, and type 4В - 3. A plethora of surgical exposures were used - extended lateral, paratricipital, a combination of medial and lateral, dorsal with olecranon osteotomy. Primary TEA was performed in 3 patients: Type 3A - 1, type 3В – 1, and type 4В - 1. The patients were followed for a period of 12 months to 8 years. The results were evaluated by the MEPS, DASH and McGowan scores. The final ROM, compared to the contralateral side, was recorded. The average scores are comparable with the ones in a number of publications in the referent literature. As evaluated by MEPS, excellent results were found in 53% of patients, good – in 27%, fair in 7%, and poor –in 13%. The most serious problem was the elbow stiffness. Early deep infection was found in 1 patient with type 4B fracture. Ectopic ossification Hastings type I was found in 1 patient.

The modern surgical treatment is based on anatomical reduction through fracture type-specific surgical exposure and rigid osteosynthesis. The treatment of choice for irreparable fractures is total elbow arthroplasty (TEA). We discuss the fixation devises, the surgical exposures and the osteosynthesis construct. Our own osteosynthesis preferences are centered around the fixation in the frontal plane and the additional augmentation with sagittal plane implants.