Dual plating for the humeral intercondylar fracture

Objective To report the clinical outcome of dual plating in treating humeral intercondylar fractures. Methods From February 2002 to June 2003, 22 cases of humeral intercondylar fractures were treated with dual plating. It involved 15 males and 7 females, whose average age was 42.2 years with a range from 19 to 67 years. According to the AO classification, 5 cases were of type C1, 11 of C2 and 6 of C3. The posterior midline approach was selected, and the intercondylar fracture ends were exposed through the trans-olecranon osteotomy. The intercondylar fragments were fixed first, in 6 cases with C3 type fractures, the auto-grafting from the iliac bone was performed because of comminution, then the supracondylar fracture was fixed with dual plating. The semi-tubular plates was applied on the medial epicondylar crest of the humerus; and the reconstruction plate was implanted on the postero-lateral side, the two plates were kept in 90° with each other. The osteotomized ends were fixed with tension band. Results All the 22 patients were followed up for 13-29 months ( mean, 20.2 months ). By the end of the first postoperative month, the elbow flexion averaged 86.2°( range, 80°-105°), and the loss of extension averaged 40.7°(range, 30°-45°). But at the 12th month, the flexion improved to 117°(range, 95°-135°), and the extension loss decreased to 23.2°( range, 10°-35°). The averaged union time was 15.7 weeks with a range of 12 to 20 weeks. Assessed by the Jupiter scoring system, 3 cases were rated as excellent, 15 as good and 4 as fair. Complications included 4 cases of incision exudation, 3 K-wires withdrawal, 1 ulnar neuropathy and 3 heterotopic ossification. But no incision necrosis, deep infection, loosening or breakage of the internal fixators occurred. Conclusion The dual plating is able to provide stable and durable fixation for the humeral intercondylar fractures. In addition, it can prevent malunion or nonunion effectively, and decrease the related complications significantly. This method is helpful to improve the functional recovery of the elbow joint satisfactorily.