Coronal Shear Fractures of the Distal End of the Humerus

We identified a shear fracture of the distal articular surface of the humerus, with anterior and proximal displacement of the capitellum and a portion of the trochlea, in six patients (five female and one male). The average age of the patients was thirty-eight years (range, ten to sixty-three years)...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume 1996-01, Vol.78 (1), p.49-54
Main Authors: McKEE, MICHAEL D, JUPITER, JESSE B, BAMBERGER, H BRENT
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Activities of Daily Living
Adolescent
Adult
Biological and medical sciences
Child
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Humeral Fractures - diagnostic imaging
Humeral Fractures - physiopathology
Humeral Fractures - surgery
Injuries of the limb. Injuries of the spine
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Pronation - physiology
Range of Motion, Articular - physiology
Retrospective Studies
Tensile Strength - physiology
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents
Treatment Outcome
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:We identified a shear fracture of the distal articular surface of the humerus, with anterior and proximal displacement of the capitellum and a portion of the trochlea, in six patients (five female and one male). The average age of the patients was thirty-eight years (range, ten to sixty-three years). Each fracture was the result of a fall from a standing height. A characteristic radiographic abnormality, which we have termed the double-arc sign, was seen on the lateral radiograph of each patient and represented the subchondral bone of the displaced capitellum and the lateral trochlear ridge. All patients were managed with open reduction, internal fixation, and early motion of the elbow. The average duration of follow-up was twenty-two months (range, eighteen to twenty-six months). The fracture united in all patients at an average of six weeks (range, four to nine weeks), without radiographic evidence of osteonecrosis of the fracture fragment. Flexion of the elbow averaged 141 degrees (range, 130 to 150 degrees), with an average flexion contracture of 15 degrees (range, 0 to 40 degrees). Pronation of the forearm averaged 83 degrees, and supination averaged 84 degrees. All patients had a good or excellent functional result, according to the elbow-rating scale of Broberg and Morrey.
ISSN:0021-9355
1535-1386
DOI:10.2106/00004623-199601000-00007