title: Operative treatment of distal humeral fractures in the elderly.
abstract: We treated 49 patients at an average age of 80 years (75 to 90) with distal mostly intraarticular humeral fractures by open reduction. There were 8 class A, 13 class B and 28 class C fractures on Müller's classification. The patients were reviewed at a postoperative average of 18 months. The patients' assessment of the result was very good in 31%, good in 49%, fair in 15% and poor in 5%. The flexion-extension range was very good in 41%, good in 44% and fair in 15%. The incidence of implant failure, pseudarthrosis of the olecranon osteotomy and ulnar nerve lesion was no higher in these elderly patients than in younger patients. Old age is not a contraindication to open reduction and internal fixation; it is important to restore full function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Hospital of Basle, Switzerland.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: John
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rosso
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Neff
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bodoky
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Regazzoni
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Harder
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001858:Bone Nails; D001860:Bone Plates; D001863:Bone Screws; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal; D005596:Fractures, Closed / Q000145:classification / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D006810:Humeral Fractures / Q000145:classification / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D016896:Treatment Outcome