title: Bilateral plate fixation for type C distal humerus fractures: experience at a single institution.
abstract: Type C fractures of the distal humerus are difficult to treat and typically require open anatomical reduction and internal fixation. Here we describe our experience treating patients with type C distal humerus fractures using a trans-olecranon approach with bilateral plate fixation. Fifty-six patients (30 males, 26 females; mean age 49.8 years) were treated over a period of six years. Thirteen fractures were open and 43 closed; all were caused by falls or traffic accidents. All operations were performed successfully with no intraoperative complications. Mean duration of follow-up was 30 months (range 6-70). Mean duration of fracture healing was 2.8 months (range 2-4). Forty-seven out of 56 patients (84%) suffered no postoperative complications. One patient exhibited symptoms of ulnar nerve injury following surgery (nine exhibited symptoms before and after surgery). Two patients had mild cubitus varus deformities, four delayed olecranon osteotomy site healing, and two heterotopic ossifications. In summary, complications were minimal and outcomes satisfactory in patients with type C distal humerus fractures who underwent bilateral plate fixation via a trans-olecranon approach.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Tenth People's Hospital of Tong Ji University, Shanghai, 200072, China.
authors.forename: Shao-Hua
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhen-Hua
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zheng-Dong
authors.initials: ZD
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Yu-Chang
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Yong-Zhen
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liou
authors.forename: Kun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Jian-Guang
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001860:Bone Plates; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D017102:Fracture Healing; D005597:Fractures, Open / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D006810:Humeral Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult