A clinical comparison of two different double plating methods for intraarticular distal humerus fractures.
BACKGROUND
This study compared clinical outcomes in patients with intraarticular distal humerus fractures treated using 2 different double plating methods.


METHODS
Seventeen patients were treated by perpendicular plating (group I) and 18 by parallel plating (group II) methods. Arc of flexion averaged 106 degrees +/-23 degrees in group I and 112 degrees +/-19 degrees in group II.


RESULTS
Eleven patients in group I recovered full arc of flexion and 13 patients in group II achieved full arc of flexion. All patients obtained bone union, except 2 patients in group I. Nonunion in these patients developed in the supracondylar area. Complications developed in 6 patients in group I and in 8 in group II. No significant differences were found between the clinical outcomes of the 2o plating methods.


CONCLUSIONS
Although more patients failed to achieve bony union in the perpendicular plating group, both parallel and orthogonal plates positioning can provide adequate stability and anatomic reconstruction of the distal humerus fractures.


METHODS
2.
Shin
Sang-Jin
SJ
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. sjshin622@ewha.ac.kr
Sohn
Hoon-Sang
HS
Do
Nam-Hoon
NH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001860:Bone Plates; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology; D018460:Fractures, Comminuted / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D006810:Humeral Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D057072:Intra-Articular Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D011336:Probability; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D020127:Recovery of Function; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000092464:Elbow Injuries