A novel and superior Lasso-plate technique in treatment for coronoid process fracture in the terrible triad of elbow

The treatment of ulna coronal process fractures in the terrible triad of elbow, especially type I and II Regan–Morrey coronoid fractures, still have been controversial. The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the novel Lasso-plate technique to have a more reliable fixation and a well clinical outcomes for type I and II Regan–Morrey coronoid fractures in a terrible triad of the elbow (TTE). Patients with simple TTE, closed fracture, aged > 18 years, duration of injury < 2 weeks, type I and II Regan–Morrey coronoid process fracture fixed by the Lasso-plate technique or ORIF were enrolled in the study. Total 144 patients with type I and II Regan–Morrey coronoid fracture in TTE were included in the Lasso-plate group or ORIF (open reduction and internal fixation) group in the Xi’an Honghui Hospital from January 2017 to December 2020. Eighty-six patients in Lasso-plate group underwent surgery using a novel Lasso-plate technique. And other 58 patients in ORIF group underwent surgery using ORIF. The data of two groups, including the X-ray films, Computed tomography (CT), the range of elbow motion, Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS) and the surgical complications, were extracted from the hospital’s patient records. All patients in both groups were followed up at least 12 months. The mean operation time (88.2 ± 12.3 min) in Lasso-plate group is shorter than that of ORIF group (109.1 ± 13.0 min). There was one patient with injury of deep branch of radial nerve and one patient with superficial surgical incision infection in Lasso-plate group. There were two patients with surgical incision infection in ORIF group. There were three heterotopic ossifications in Lasso-plate group and eight heterotopic ossifications in ORIF group. There were 5 elbow joints stiffness in Lasso-plate group and 12 in ORIF group. At 12 months follow up, the mean range of flexion–extension motion in Lasso-plate group was 122.9° ± 13.4° versus 113.2° ± 18.1° in ORIF group (p < 0.01), the mean 89.7 ± 5.6 MEPS in Lasso-plate group versus mean 83.7 ± 6.1 MEPSin ORIF group. The fixation of coronoid process fracture in TTE by the Lasso-plate technique, especially type I and II Regan–Morrey coronoid fracture, could be easier to master and operate, could provide the sufficient stability of elbow joint to enable early functional exercise, along with a better clinical outcome, a lower surgical complication. For the treatment of TTE, we recommend the fixation of type I and II Regan–Morrey coronoid fracture with the Lasso-plate technique, which would result in a better clinical outcome.