title: Elbow hemiarthroplasty for acute reconstruction of intraarticular distal humerus fractures: a preliminary report involving 4 patients.
abstract: We treated 4 female patients (mean age 80) with complex intraarticular acute fracture of the distal humerus with a Kudo humeral component, i.e. a hemiarthroplasty. All fractures were considered impossible to treat with open reduction and internal fixation. At mean 10 (3-14) months, 3 patients had an excellent result and 1 a good result according to the Mayo elbow performance score. We conclude that a hemiarthroplasty may be a valuable alternative in elderly patients with complex fractures of the distal humerus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Linkoping University Hospital, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Adolfsson
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hammer
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019643:Arthroplasty, Replacement / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006810:Humeral Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D011859:Radiography; D016896:Treatment Outcome