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Review Article
Treatment of Distal Humeral Fractures
Yong-Cheol Yoon, M.D., Jong-Keon Oh, M.D., Ph.D.
Journal of the Korean Fracture Society 2012;25(3):223-232.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12671/jkfs.2012.25.3.223
Published online: July 16, 2012

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Korea University Medical Center Guro Hospital, Seoul, Korea.

Address reprint requests to: Jong-Keon Oh, M.D., Ph.D. Division of Trauma, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Korea University Medical Center Guro Hospital, 148, Gurodong-ro, Guro-gu, Seoul 152-703, Korea. Tel: 82-2-2626-3088, Fax: 82-2-851-3111, jkoh@korea.ac.kr

Copyright © 2012 The Korean Fracture Society

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  • 1. Arnander MW, Reeves A, MacLeod IA, Pinto TM, Khaleel A. A biomechanical comparison of plate configuration in distal humerus fractures. J Orthop Trauma, 2008;22:332-336.
  • 2. Athwal GS, Rispoli DM, Steinmann SP. The anconeus flap transolecranon approach to the distal humerus. J Orthop Trauma, 2006;20:282-285.Article
  • 3. Brouwer KM, Guitton TG, Doornberg JN, Kloen P, Jupiter JB, Ring D. Fractures of the medial column of the distal humerus in adults. J Hand Surg Am, 2009;34:439-445.
  • 4. Bryan RS, Morrey BF. Extensive posterior exposure of the elbow. A triceps-sparing approach. Clin Orthop Relat Res, 1982;(166):188-192.
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  • 29. Zalavras CG, Vercillo MT, Jun BJ, Otarodifard K, Itamura JM, Lee TQ. Biomechanical evaluation of parallel versus orthogonal plate fixation of intra-articular distal humerus fractures. J Shoulder Elbow Surg, 2011;20:12-20.
Fig. 1
(A) Anterior, (B) posterior view of column structure of the distal humerus.
jkfs-25-223-g001.jpg
Fig. 2
Alignment of medial and lateral side of the distal humerus.
jkfs-25-223-g002.jpg
Fig. 3
Illustrations show AO classification 13 C1, C2, C3.
jkfs-25-223-g003.jpg
Fig. 4
Bare area marked with arrow does not have articular cartilage, so bare area is in the osteotomy.
jkfs-25-223-g004.jpg
Fig. 5
When hinge-opening the periarticular bone fragment (arrow) from side to side to find a coronal fragment shown in computed tomography and fix it.
jkfs-25-223-g005.jpg
Fig. 6
A 3D computed tomography which displays a coronal bone fragment invading the front of trochlea (arrow). A clinical picture showing a coronal bone block fixed with a 0.9 mm K-wire. K-wire is buried in the bone, when reducing captellum and trochlea after sticking it to the fractured side and cutting it. There is an embedded K-wire to fix the coronal bone fragment in the picture taken after the surgery (arrow).
jkfs-25-223-g006.jpg
Fig. 7
An example of an accurate operation of tension band wiring and plate fixation using a transosseous pin.
jkfs-25-223-g007.jpg
Fig. 8
When K-wire is too deeply inserted into the bone without accurate reduction and compression of osteotomy part right after the surgery. Especially, inserting two k-wires into the lateral side may restrict joint movement, by causing a collision in the radial tuberosity, because they protrude too much as shown in the oblique view. Therefore, it requires a careful attention. There was an early loss of fixation as displayed in the picture taken a month later the surgery. This could be solved with plate fixation.
jkfs-25-223-g008.jpg
Fig. 9
When reducing AO 13 C2 fracture with the side to side retraction approach and fixing it. It was found that there was no articular comminution or coronal bone fragment in the computed tomography, and it was possible to reduce the joint without osteotomy of olecranon, because it was separated between trochlea and capitellum.
jkfs-25-223-g009.jpg
Fig. 10
A clinical image to fix a plate in the medial and posterolateral side and a radiograph which shows accurate joint reduction and joint movement during the surgery.
jkfs-25-223-g010.jpg
Fig. 11
Conventional orthogonal plating with congruent elbow plating system.
jkfs-25-223-g011.jpg
Fig. 12
Anatomical precontoured locking compression plate with congruent elbow plating system.
jkfs-25-223-g012.jpg
Fig. 13
When inserting a screw through a screw hole of plate after reducing the periarticular bone fragment with pointed reduction forceps and fixing it rather than a separate lag screw.
jkfs-25-223-g013.jpg
Fig. 14
An example of fixation in a small metaphyseal wedged-bone fragment using 2.7 mm / 2.0 mm screws.
jkfs-25-223-g014.jpg
Fig. 15
Parallel plating with congruent elbow plating system.
jkfs-25-223-g015.jpg
Fig. 16
A case to fix C2 fracture accompanied by a low lateral column fracture (arrow) successfully with parallel plating.
jkfs-25-223-g016.jpg

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    • Paratricipital Approach for AO/OTA Type C2 Intra-Articular Fracture of Distal Humerus
      Chul-Hyung Lee, Doo-Hun Sun, Deukhee Jung, Chung-Han An
      Journal of the Korean Fracture Society.2019; 32(3): 128.     CrossRef
    • How Difficult Is It to Surgically Treat AO-C Type Distal Humerus Fractures for Inexperienced Orthopedic Surgeons?
      Seong Ho Yoo, Suk Woong Kang, Moo Ho Song, Young Jun Kim, Hyuck Bae
      Journal of the Korean Fracture Society.2018; 31(2): 45.     CrossRef

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    Treatment of Distal Humeral Fractures
    Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image
    Fig. 1 (A) Anterior, (B) posterior view of column structure of the distal humerus.
    Fig. 2 Alignment of medial and lateral side of the distal humerus.
    Fig. 3 Illustrations show AO classification 13 C1, C2, C3.
    Fig. 4 Bare area marked with arrow does not have articular cartilage, so bare area is in the osteotomy.
    Fig. 5 When hinge-opening the periarticular bone fragment (arrow) from side to side to find a coronal fragment shown in computed tomography and fix it.
    Fig. 6 A 3D computed tomography which displays a coronal bone fragment invading the front of trochlea (arrow). A clinical picture showing a coronal bone block fixed with a 0.9 mm K-wire. K-wire is buried in the bone, when reducing captellum and trochlea after sticking it to the fractured side and cutting it. There is an embedded K-wire to fix the coronal bone fragment in the picture taken after the surgery (arrow).
    Fig. 7 An example of an accurate operation of tension band wiring and plate fixation using a transosseous pin.
    Fig. 8 When K-wire is too deeply inserted into the bone without accurate reduction and compression of osteotomy part right after the surgery. Especially, inserting two k-wires into the lateral side may restrict joint movement, by causing a collision in the radial tuberosity, because they protrude too much as shown in the oblique view. Therefore, it requires a careful attention. There was an early loss of fixation as displayed in the picture taken a month later the surgery. This could be solved with plate fixation.
    Fig. 9 When reducing AO 13 C2 fracture with the side to side retraction approach and fixing it. It was found that there was no articular comminution or coronal bone fragment in the computed tomography, and it was possible to reduce the joint without osteotomy of olecranon, because it was separated between trochlea and capitellum.
    Fig. 10 A clinical image to fix a plate in the medial and posterolateral side and a radiograph which shows accurate joint reduction and joint movement during the surgery.
    Fig. 11 Conventional orthogonal plating with congruent elbow plating system.
    Fig. 12 Anatomical precontoured locking compression plate with congruent elbow plating system.
    Fig. 13 When inserting a screw through a screw hole of plate after reducing the periarticular bone fragment with pointed reduction forceps and fixing it rather than a separate lag screw.
    Fig. 14 An example of fixation in a small metaphyseal wedged-bone fragment using 2.7 mm / 2.0 mm screws.
    Fig. 15 Parallel plating with congruent elbow plating system.
    Fig. 16 A case to fix C2 fracture accompanied by a low lateral column fracture (arrow) successfully with parallel plating.
    Treatment of Distal Humeral Fractures

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