OPERATIVE TREATMENT OF TYPE-C INTRAARTICULAR FRACTURES OF THE DISTAL HUMERUS - THE ROLE OF STABILITY ACHIEVED AT SURGERY ON FINAL OUTCOME

We report the results of 75 patients with type C intra-articular fract ure of the distal humerus treated operatively by two methods and follo wed up for a mean period of 48.2 months. Minimal osteosynthesis and jo int immobilization was used in 21 cases while the remaining 54 patient s were treated according to AO recommendations. Good or excellent resu lts were found in 38 per cent after minimal osteosynthesis and in 77.8 per cent following the AO technique. 87.8 per cent of the cases with stable osteosynthesis and early mobilization had a good or excellent r esult as compared with 41.2 per cent of the cases after unstable fixat ion and immobilization of the joint (P < 0.01). The type of fracture w as found to be an important factor in achieving stable fixation (P < 0 .01).