Objective To investigate the method and effectiveness of operative treatment of Dubberley type 3B capitulum-trochlea fractures. Methods Between January 2009 and December 2012, 8 cases of Dubberley type 3B capitulum-trochlea fractures were treated. There were 2 males and 6 females with an average age of 55 years (range, 43-65 years). The injury was caused by falling in 6 cases, electric bicycle accident in 1 case, and traffic accident in 1 case. All fractures were fresh and closed injury. No neural or vascular injury was found. The time between injury and operation was 3-15 days (mean, 5.9days). Olecranon osteotomy was performed by a posterior midline skin incision of the elbow; 3.0 mm Herbert compression screws placed from posterior to anterior, 2.4 mm L shape locking compression plate designed for distal radius or 2.7 mm anatomical locking compression plate designed for distal humerus and 1.0 mm Kirschner wires or 3.0 mm Herbert screw for the transverse and coronal plane in the subchondral of anterior articular surface were used for fixation; and the lateral and medial collateral ligaments were repaired. Results All incisions healed by first intention. The patients were followed up 12-18 months (mean, 14.5 months). The X-ray films showed that fracture healing was achieved at 12-24 weeks (mean, 15 weeks) in 7 cases. Fracture nonunion and partial bone resorption in the capitellum were observed in 1 case. No failure of internal fixation, ulnohumeral joint instability, or traumatic arthritis occurred. At last follow-up, the range of motion of injured elbow was 0-40° in extension (mean 25.0°), 100-135° in flexion (mean, 116.3°), 60-70° in pronation (mean, 61.3°), and 80-90° in supination (mean, 81.3°). The elbow function score was 64-96 (mean, 81.1) according to the Broberg-Morrey evaluation criteria; the results were excellent in 2 cases, good in 4 cases, and fair in 2 cases with an excellent and good rate of 75%. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score was 0-3 (mean, 1). Conclusion For Dubberley type 3B capitulum-trochlea fractures, an early anatomic reconstruction of capitellar and trochlea, repair of the medial and lateral collateral ligament, and early active mobilization can obtain good functional results.
ObjectiveTo analyze the possible injury mechanisms in patients with dorsal avulsion fracture of the capitellum combined with medial or posterior medial dislocation of the elbow joint, and to discuss their treatment and prognosis. Methods Retrospective analysis was made on the clinical data of 4 patients with dorsal avulsion fracture of the capitellum combined with medial or posterior medial dislocation of the elbow joint admitted between September 2014 and September 2020, including 3 males and 1 female with an average age of 20.7 years (range, 13-32 years). There were 2 cases of dorsal avulsion fracture of the capitellum combined with medial dislocation of the elbow joint and 2 cases of dorsal avulsion fracture of the capitellum and anterior medial fracture of the coronoid process combined with posterior medial subluxation of the elbow joint. Closed reduction was performed in 3 patients with fresh fracture combined with dislocation, then 2 cases were fixed with tension band and 1 case was fixed with tension band combined with Acumed coronoid anatomic plate. And in patient with old fracture nonunion, the coronoid process was fixed with 1 screw, then the humeral sclerotic bone mass was removed, and finally the lateral collateral ligament was repaired and a hinged external fixator was added. Results All the incisions healed by first intention without early complications such as infection or peripheral nerve injury. The 4 patients were followed up 13-30 months (mean, 20.8 months). The fractures all healed with a healing time of 70-90 days (mean, 79.5 days). At 6 months after operation, heterotopic ossification was seen in the posterior aspect of the right elbow joint in 1 case, and the alkaline phosphatase level was normal (67 U/L); the tension band was removed to clear the heterotopic ossification and the elbow joint was released. The rest of the patients had no heterotopic ossification. At last follow-up, all patients had good functional recovery of the elbow joint, with a Mayo score of 85-100 (mean, 92.5), and the excellent and good rate was 100%. The elbow flexion range of motion was 120°-135°, the extension range of motion was 10°-20°, and the pronation and supination range of motion were all 75°-85°. Conclusion Dorsal avulsion fractures of the capitellum combined with medial or posterior medial dislocation of the elbow may be due to simple varus stress. If an anteromedial coronoid facet fracture also occurs, it may be for the varus posteromedial rotatory instability, which is the opposite mechanism to that of an Osborne-Cotterill lesion. For fresh dorsal avulsion fractures of the capitellum, tension band fixation can be used with good results.
Objective To explore the clinical characteristics and treatment of “kissing fracture” of humeroradial joint. Methods A clinical data of 12 patients with “kissing fracture” of the humeroradial joint between January 2016 and June 2021 was retrospectively analyzed. There were 8 males and 4 females with an average age of 41.9 years (range, 15-75 years). The fractures caused by falling in 7 cases, by falling from height in 3 cases, and by sports in 2 cases. The time from injury to admission was 2-72 hours (median, 2 hours). According to Mason’s classification, the radial head fractures were rated as type Ⅰ in 2 cases, type Ⅱ in 8 cases, and type Ⅲ in 2 cases. According to Grantham’s classification, the humeral capitulum fractures were rated as type Ⅰ in 10 cases and type Ⅱ in 2 cases. Among them, 4 cases of Grantham type Ⅰ humeral capitulum fracture were missed by X-ray film and confirmed by CT and/or MRI. Four cases were complicated with other injuries of elbow joint. The radial head fractures were fixed with screws or mini plate in 11 cases and treated conservatively in 1 case; the humeral capitulum fractures were fixed with screw or plate in 9 cases, removed in 1 case, and treated conservatively in 2 cases. X-ray film was used to evaluate the fracture healing; Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS) was used to evaluate the functional recovery of the affected limb, and the range of motion (ROM) of the elbow joint of the affected limb was detected. Results All the incisions healed by first intention without early complications. All patients were followed up 10-24 months, with an average of 15.2 months. X-ray films showed that all fractures healed, and the healing time was 2-3 months, with an average of 2.3 months. At last follow-up, the ROM of flexion-extension of the elbow joint was 65°-161°, with an average of 136.9°; the ROM of rotation was 70°-180°, with an average of 149.2°. MEPS ranged from 70 to 100, with an average of 87.4; 8 cases were excellent, 2 cases were good, and 2 cases were fair; the excellent and good rate was 83.3%. Conclusion The “kissing fracture” of the humeroradial joint is relatively rare, and the humeral capitulum fracture is milder than radial head fracture. X-ray examination alone can easily miss the diagnosis of Grantham type Ⅰ humeral capitulum fracture. The “kissing fracture” of the humeroradial joint is treated according to the principle of intra-articular fracture, and the good effectiveness can obtain.