Complications of Open Reduction and Internal Fixation of Distal Humerus Fractures

Overview

Journal EFORT Open Rev

Specialty Orthopedics

Date 2019 Jan 22

PMID 30662764

Citations 17

Authors

Olga D Savvidou

Frantzeska Zampeli

Panagiotis Koutsouradis

George D Chloros

Aggelos Kaspiris

Savas Sourmelis

Panayiotis J Papagelopoulos

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Treatment of distal humerus fractures is demanding. Surgery is the optimal treatment and preoperative planning is based on fracture type and degree of comminution.Fixation with two precontoured anatomical locking plates at 90:90 orthogonal or 180 parallel is the optimal treatment.The main goal of surgical treatment is to obtain stable fixation to allow immediate postoperative elbow mobilization and prevent joint stiffness.Despite evolution of plates and surgical techniques, complications such as mechanical failure, ulnar neuropathy, stiffness, heterotopic ossification, nonunion, malunion, infection, and complications from olecranon osteotomy are quite common.Distal humerus fractures still present a significant technical challenge and need meticulous technique and experience to achieve optimal results. Cite this article: 2018;3:558-567. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.3.180009.

Citing Articles

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