Objective To investigate the effectiveness of hinged external fixator with mini-plate to treat terrible triad of the elbow. Methods Between August 2008 and June 2011, 11 patients with terrible triad of the elbow were treated with hinged external fixator combined with mini-plate. There were 9 males and 2 females, aged 22-56 years (mean, 34 years). The injuries were caused by falling from height in 8 cases and traffic accident in 3 cases. All patients were closed injury. The time from injury to operation varied from 8 hours to 7 days (mean, 3.7 days). According to Mason classification standard, all radial head fractures were type IV and complicated by posterior dislocation of the elbow; according to Regan-Morrey classification standard, ulna coronary process fractures were type I in 3 cases, type II in 3 cases, and type III in 5 cases. Results All the patients achieved primary healing of incision after operation and no nerve injury occurred. The patients were followed up 12-20 months (mean, 15 months). Two cases had screw channel infection after 12 weeks of operation, and 1 case had mild heterotopic ossification of the elbow after 4 months of operation. X-ray films showed that all fractures healed from 8 to 20 weeks (mean, 16 weeks). No recurrent dislocation or instability of the elbow occurred. At 12 months after operation, the elbow range of motion (ROM) were 120-145° (mean, 135°) in flexion, 0-25° (mean, 10°) in extension, 50-90° (mean, 70°) in pronation, and 50-80° (mean, 60°) in supination. According to Mayo elbow function evaluation standard, the results were excellent in 5 cases, good in 4 cases, and fair in 2 cases, with an excellent and good rate of 81.8%. Conclusion Hinged external fixator with mini-plate can enhance postoperative stability of the elbow. This therapy is beneficial to early functional exercise and obviously decrease the disability rate caused by complex damage on the elbow.
Objective To review the injury mechanism and the treatment progress of terrible triad of the elbow, and to analyze the direction of further research. Methods Related literature concerning terrible triad of the elbow was extensively reviewed and comprehensively analyzed. Results The main treatment of terrible triad of the elbow is operation. The ultimate goal of treatment is to reconstruct sufficient stability of the elbow. The treatment includes fixation of the coronoid by suture, screw or plate; fixation of radial head by screw and plate, partial or complete replacement of the radial head; fixation of lateral collateral ligament and the medial collateral ligament by bone suture or anchors and the application of the external fixator. These surgical treatments have their own indications and advantages, most get satisfactory results. Conclusion Generally, surgery is needed to maintain the stability of the elbow for patients of terrible triad elbow. However, medial ligament repair or not, the choice of approach, and mechanism of injury still need further study.
ObjectiveTo explore the clinical significance of anterior median approach combined with lateral approach to the elbow joint in the treatment of terrible triad of the elbow.MethodsWe retrospectively collected the data of 63 cases who used the anterior median approach of the elbow joint combined with the lateral approach (group A, n=36) or the medial and lateral approach of the elbow (group B, n=27) in the treatment of terrible triad of the elbow between March 2014 and July 2019. The operation time, postoperative complications, and postoperative Mayo score of the elbow were compared between the two surgical approaches.ResultsThe operation time of group A and group B was (93.78±7.78) and (106.93±10.35) min, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The patients in both groups completed operations successfully, without vascular or nerve injury. All the wounds healed by first intention. No redislocation or reoperation occurred. Ten months after operation, there was no significant difference in the excellence rate of Mayo score of the elbow (83.3% vs. 85.2%) or postoperative complication rate (16.7% vs. 14.8%) between the two groups (P>0.05).ConclusionThe anterior median approach of the elbow joint combined with the lateral approach and the medial and lateral elbow approach for the treatment of terrible triad of the elbow are equivalent to the postoperative elbow function recovery. The operation time of the former is shorter than that of the latter, and the anterior approach reveals the coronal process intuitively and sufficiently. In the case that there is no medial ligament injury, the anterior median approach of the elbow joint combined with the lateral approach can be preferred.
ObjectiveTo investigate the short-term effectiveness of free radial head reconstruction of coronoid process, artificial radial head replacement, and ulna olecranon internal fixation in the treatment of the complex terrible triad of the elbow.MethodsRetrospective analysis was made on the clinical data of 12 patients with complex terrible triad of the elbow treated with free radial head reconstruction of coronoid process, artificial radial head replacement, and ulna olecranon internal fixation between April 2011 and April 2018. There were 8 males and 4 females with an average age of 44.5 years (range, 26-62 years). The causes of injury included 5 cases of traffic accident, 7 cases of falling from hight. The Regan-Morrey classification of ulnar coronoid process fractures was type Ⅲ; Mason classification of radial head fractures was type Ⅲ in 7 cases and type Ⅳ in 5 cases. The time from injury to operation was 5-14 days, with an average of 6.0 days. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and complications were recorded. After operation, X-ray film of elbow joint was reexamined, fracture healing condition was observed, and fracture healing time was recorded. The flexion, extension, and rotation of the elbow joints on the healthy and affected sides were recorded and measured. The elbow function was evaluated according to Mayo elbow function score.ResultsThe operation time was 90-140 minutes (mean, 110 minutes); the intraoperative blood loss was 100-300 mL (mean, 150 mL). None of the patients had vascular injury during the operation. One patient developed numbness in the ulnar nerve innervation area and recovered completely after symptomatic treatment for 1 week. All the 12 patients were followed up 12-22 months, with an average of 16 months. At last follow-up, the fracture healed completely, 1 patient developed ectopic ossification of elbow joint, and 2 patients developed traumatic arthritis of elbow joint. No internal fixation-related complications occurred. There was no significant difference in the range of motion of elbow flexion, extension, pronation, and supination between the affected and healthy sides (P>0.05). The median Mayo elbow function score was 96, and the interquartile range was (94, 97), and the excellent and good rate was 91.7%.ConclusionFor patients with complex terrible triad of the elbow with ulna coronoid process fractures of Regan-Morrey type Ⅲ and radial head fractures of Mason type Ⅲ, Ⅳ combined with ulna olecranon fractures, the free radial head reconstruction, artificial radial head replacement, and ulna olecranon internal fixation, through active rehabilitation function exercise after operation, can achieve more satisfactory short-term effectiveness.