Original Articles
Distal humerus fractures treated with anatomically pre contouredlocking compressive plates: Study of 25 cases | |
Sunkara Mangala Bhargav, Nishant Narayan Gholap, Dev Manohar Kiran, Robin C Raju, Amar Vishal, P Sitaramacharyulu | |
Introduction:Distal humerus fractures, accounting for about 2% of all fractures, predominantly affect elderly women due to osteoporosis and present a bimodal distribution, with young individuals typically injured through high-energy events. These fractures often result in significant morbidity. The introduction of LCPs has notably advanced the treatment of these fractures. These plates, tailored to the distal humerus anatomy, offer stable fixation even in osteoporotic bones, reducing the risk of postoperative complications and aiding in the management of complex fracture patterns.Materials And Methods:This was a prospective cohort study conducted in the department of orthopaedics in which 25 patients with distal humerus fractures were included on the basis of a predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. All patients were treated by open reduction and internal fixation using anatomically pre contoured locking compressive plates. The patients were followed up till 20 weeks post operatively. The functional assessment was done using Mayo elbow performance score (MEPS). P value less than 0.05 was taken as statistically significant.Results:There was a slight female predominance (52%) with a mean age of 43.46 +/- 12.34 years. The most common injury mechanism was a fall from a bike (64%). Left-sided fractures were more prevalent (64%). Fractures were predominantly classified as C1 (44%) in the AO/OTA classification. All patients underwent open reduction and internal fixation using anatomically pre-contoured locking compressive plates. Functional outcomes assessed by the Mayo Elbow Performance Score showed significant improvement post-operatively, with 82% of patients achieving an excellent or good outcome. Complications were minimal, with only one case of superficial skin infection and another of arthrofibrosis in an elderly patient.Conclusion:Distal humerus fractures treated by Open reduction and internal fixation with anatomically pre-contoured locking compression plates give excellent functional outcomes across different age groups with minimal complications. |
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