Surgical treatment for terrible triad of the elbow through medial and lateral approach

Abstract

To investigate the clinical effects of medial and lateral approach in treating terrible triad of the elbow. From May 2010 from May 2014, 11 patients with terrible triad of the elbow were treated through medial and lateral approach. There were 6 males and 5 females, aged from 25 to 56 years with an average of 35.2 years old. The time from injury to operation was from 1 to 13 days with an average of 5.9 days. Fracture of radial head according to Mason typing, 2 cases were type I, 7 cases were type II, 2 cases were type III. Ulnar coronoid fracture according to Regan-Morrey typing, 3 cases were type I, 7 cases were type II, 1 case was type III. Postoperative complications were observed and Mayo elbow performance score(MEPS) was used to assess the elbow joint function. All patients were followed up from 6 to 24 months with an average of 15.5 months. All fractures obtained healing with an average time of 14 weeks (ranged from 10 to 18 weeks). According to Mayo to assess the results, total score was 78.2±11.7, 2 cases got excellent results, 7 good, 1 fair, 1 poor. At final follow up, the mean range of motion was (108±21)° in flexion, (12±8)° in extension, (66±13)° in pronation, (28±18)° in supination. The varus angle of the elbow ranged from 5°to 8° in 3 cases and the valgus angle was 8° in 1 case. Treatment of the terrible triad of the elbow through medial and lateral approach can obtain satisfactory clinical effects, restore the elbow stability, allow early motion postoperatively, and promote the joint functional rehabilitation.