Operative Treatment of Capitellar Fractures Associated with/without Other Injury Around the Elbow

Kang,  Ho Jung; Park,  Kwang Hwan; Lee,  Jung Kil; Choi,  Yun Rak; Hahn,  Soo Bong; Kim,  Sung Jae

doi:2009.12.2.142

Clin Shoulder Elb > Volume 12(2); 2009 > Article

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Shoulder and Elbow Society 2009;12(2):142-149.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5397/CiSE.2009.12.2.142 Published online December 31, 2009.

Operative Treatment of Capitellar Fractures Associated with/without Other Injury Around the Elbow

Ho Jung Kang, Kwang Hwan Park, Jung Kil Lee, Yun Rak Choi, Soo Bong Hahn, Sung Jae Kim

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. pizza800@hanmail.net

단순 혹은 주관절 주위 손상을 동반한 소두 골절의 수술적 치료

강호정·박광환·이정길·최윤락·한수봉·김성재

연세대학교 의과대학 정형외과학교실

Abstract

PURPOSE
We wanted to assess the radiological and clinical results and the prognostic factors after an operation for capitellar fractures associated with/without other injury around the elbow. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among the 25 patients (mean age: 49 years-old) who underwent open reduction and internal fixation for capitellar fractures, there were nineteen type 1 fractures and six type 3 fractures. The mean follow up period was 14.8 months. We assessed the factors affecting the radiological and functional results, such as the fracture pattern, the patient age and the surgical approaches.
RESULTS
In 24 of 25 patients, bony union was achieved at postoperative 1 year. There were eighteen excellent, four good, two fair and one poor functional results according to the Broberg and Morrey elbow score. The most common type was type 1 and the most common associated injury was lateral condylar fracture. The patients with type 1 fracture rather than the patients with type 3 fracture and the patients who had an extraarticular associated fracture rather than an intraarticular associated fracture had better clinical outcomes.
CONCLUSION
22 (88%) of the patients were satisfied at the result. The type of capitellar fracture and an associated intraarticular elbow fracture were shown to be important prognostic factors in this study.

Key Words: Elbow joint; Capitellar fracture; Open reduction and internal fixation; Prognostic factor