A Comprehensive Study of Functional Outcome in Supracondylar Intercondylar Fracture of Humerus in Adults

Background: In adults, distal humerus fractures are uncommon and intra-articular, oftenly involve both the medial and lateral columns. Open reduction and surgical fixation with plating gives good results. The aim of this study is to evaluate clinical outcome in intra articular distal humerus fractures treated with dual plating and evaluate the intermediate term results (minimum follow up of 6 months) of communited intra-articular distal humerus fractures treated with bicolumnar plating with or without olecranon osteotomy in adult Indian population. Methods: This is a prospective type of study of 25 cases of supracondylar fracture humerus with inter condylar extension treated surgically with dual plating which were admitted to Guru GovindGovt.Hospitaland M P Shah Medical College,Jamnagar Gujarat, between 2017 to 2019. All the patients of supra condylar fracture distal humerus with age between 17to 70 years with medical fitness for surgery were included in the study. Results: The mean age of the patient was 35?2 years, 15(60%) cases were males, and 10(40%) cases were females. Right sided involvement was more frequent in the present study 13(52%) cases. 6(24%) cases sustained fracture due to road traffic accident, 19(76%) cases had a domestic fall. The average duration of the radiological union was 14?06 weeks in 16(60%) cases, 15?04 weeks in 5 (25%) cases, 19?05 weeks in 4 (15%) cases. The outcome was calculated using the MEPS and DASH scores. The Mayo elbow performance score showed excellent in 3 (12%) good in 16 (64%) fair in 4(16%) and 2(8%) poor outcome. Conclusions: For good functional results, precise preoperative planning, adequate surgical approach, anatomical inter fragmentary stabilization, medial-posterolateral plating, and early post-operative physiotherapy help in restoring painless and functional elbow for distal humeral intra-articular fractures. This step-by-step approach results in satisfactory functional results.