Double tension band osteosynthesis in transcondylar distal humerus fractures and nonunions in adults

Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate the results achieved after double tension band fixation in extra-articular transcondylar distal humerus fractures and nonunions in osteoporotic elderly individuals.Methods Materials Totally five patients were treated from Nov 2011 to July 2012,out of which three were fresh fractures, one failure case following bicolumn plating and one nonunion, treated with double tension band wiring prospectively evaluated . All five lesions had a transverse orientation with type A2, that passed through the olecranon fossa, in a direction parallel to the joint line except one case which had intercondylar extension . Patients age averaged 60 years all patients were females.ResultsFollow-up averaged 6months . All fractures and nonunions united there were no infections,elbow stiffness or heterotopic bone formations. Elbow range of motion averaged 100 (range, 100120). Flexion averaged 120 and elbow extension loss averaged 15 .Conclusions The results achieved with double tension band fixation in transcondylar distal humerus fractures and nonunions are comparable to the results that can be expected when using other available fixation methods this technique is faster, less demanding and cheaper. It is an alternative to LCP fixationbicolumn plating in distal humerus providing good fixation, functional results in osteoporotic elderly individuals