title: Significance of radiological quality of surgical reduction on the clinical outcome of intra-articular fractures of the distal humerus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effect of radiological quality of surgical reduction on the clinical outcome of the intra-articular fractures of the distal humerus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety seven intra-articular fractures of distal humerus were treated at our department by open reduction and internal fixation, using a trans-olecranon approach. Patients were assessed as per the scoring system of Caja and Moorani et al. At final follow-up, radiological and clinical parameters were evaluated to assess the effect of quality of surgical reduction on the clinical outcome of the patient.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean radiological score was 15 points. Patients whose radiological score was 20 had excellent clinical result. Fractures which failed in one criteria, radiological score 15, had good to excellent clinical result. Fractures which failed in two criteria (score 10) failed to show any excellent clinical result. Correlation between radiological and clinical scores was statistically significant (P= 0.0000).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Severity of fracture affected radiological, functional and total score. Patients with higher radiological score had better functional outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Government Medical College Srinagar, University of Kashmir, J&K India. shafaatrashid@gmail.com
authors.forename: Shafaat Rashid
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Tak
authors.forename: Gh Nabi
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Dar
authors.forename: Manzoor A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Halwai
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001858:Bone Nails; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods*; D017102:Fracture Healing; D006801:Humans; D006810:Humeral Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D006811:Humerus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult