Evaluation of Outcomes of Open Reduction and Internal Fixation Surgery in Patients with Type C Distal Humeral Fractures

BACKGROUND: In this study, functional state of patients with Type C distal humerus fractures undergone surgical plating was evaluated 6 and 12 months after the surgery in order to record postsurgical factors such as pain level and job/performance satisfaction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 46 patients with humerus fractures were recruited and their ability to do daily tasks, presence of degenerative changes, stability of elbow joint, and range of motion was evaluated. For assessment of response to surgery, Mayo score was used. RESULTS: Among 46 patients, 45 (97.8%) of them had joint stability. Evaluation of postsurgical complications showed that six subjects (13%) had no complications, but superficial infection was observed in 12 (26.1%) subjects. Neuromuscular disorders in ulnar nerve were present in 11 subjects (23.9%), recurrent articular bursitis of elbow joint in 6 subjects (13%), stiffness of elbow joint in 29 subjects (63%), nonunion of fracture in 3 subjects (6.5%), and myositis ossification in 4 (8.7%) subjects. Furthermore, 18 (39.1%) patients presented with more than one (2–4) complications. CONCLUSION: Open reduction and internal fixation surgery with dual plating is the method of choice for treatment of Type C distal humeral fractures. Evaluation of long-term outcomes of this surgery could be done via several different questionnaires as many studies suggest. This study demonstrated that the outcomes of this surgery in Isfahan, Iran, have been noticeably inferior compared to results of the studies in other parts of the world.