Does timing of surgery affect the outcome of open articular distal humerus fractures

Background

Open intraarticular distal humerus fractures classified as Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA) 13 C may have devastating consequences for patient’s quality of life, especially if leading arm in younger active patient is involved. We conducted a study to determine whether the timing of open reduction and internal fixation of open intraarticular distal humerus fractures affects the outcomes.

Patients and methods

Multicentric prospective study: In the first group, there were 15 patients, 10 men and 5 women, mean age 38.7 years, operated in <6 h of injury. In the second group 17 patients, 11 men and 6 women, mean age 42.3 years operatively treated in delayed settings, mean delay to operation 4.6 days of injury. In both groups, patients had open distal humerus articular metaphyseal multifragmentary fractures classified as OTA 13.C2 or 13.C3. Functional outcome was assessed with Mayo elbow performance score and Disabilities of Arm and Shoulder and Hand (DASH). Mean Mayo elbow performance (MEP) score in the first group was 71 (range 30–100); in the second, mean MEP was 64.3 (range 25–100). The mean DASH in the first group was 27.89 (range from 1.7 to 75.8), and in the second, mean DASH score was 32.6 (range 5.8–77.5). There were no statistically significant differences between two groups, MEP t(28) = 0.935, p < 0.358; DASH t(28) = ?0.636, p < 0.530.

Conclusion

Our study shows that early open reduction and internal fixation of open distal articular humerus fractures reduces the hospital stay, but does not significantly affect the overall outcomes and complications.