A PROSPECTIVE STUDY ON INTERNAL FIXATION WITH AN ORTHOGONAL LOCKING PLATE AND OPEN REDUCTION OF AN INTRA-ARTICULAR DISTAL HUMERUS FRACTURE

Abstract

Background: Surgery for intra-articular distal humeral fractures can be difficult. Total elbow arthroplasty (TEA) versus open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) for treating elderly patients is still up for debate. In order to compare ORIF with TEA for treating intra-articular distal humerus fractures in patients, this study compared the clinical and functional results. Methods: Between one and half years at Sri Krishna Medical College Hospital, Muzaffarpur, Bihar, India, 70 willing patients with intra-articular distal humeral fractures who underwent osteosynthesis by orthogonal locking compression plating using posterior approach with olecranon osteotomy participated in a prospective study. Results: With a mean age of 38.5 years, our study included 38 male patients and 32 female patients. A motor vehicle collision accounted for 65.2% of instances, an accidental fall accounted for 21.7%, and a fall from height accounted for 13%, with the right side being more frequently afflicted (73.9%). The average operation lasted 100 minutes. Following surgery, the Mayo Elbow Performance Score was 83.3 percent, and the mean arc of mobility was 117°. 82% of cases had excellent to good outcomes. Conclusions: ORIF demonstrated superior results to TEA in patients with intra-articular distal humerus fracture.