Management of Ipsilateral Fractures of Humerus and Forearm in Adults

Journal of the Korean Shoulder and Elbow Society 1998;1(2):212-220.
Published online November 30, 1998.

Sung-Keun Sohn, M.D., Byeong-Hwan Kim, M.D., and Sung-Wook Yang, M.D.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, College of Medicine, Dong A University, Pusan, Korea

성인에서 동측에 발생한 상완골과 전완골 골절의 치료

손성근, 김병환, 양성욱

동아대학교 의과대학 정형외과학교실

Abstract

Concomitant ipsilateral fractures of the humerus, radius and ulna are uncommon combined injury and are also called "floating elbow". It was found that this injury was usually a result of rather severe trauma and frequently associated injuries to other organ systems. It is controversial in the treatment of the "floating elbow", but the current treatment recommendations are open reduction and internal fixation of both the humerus and the forearm fracture with early initiation of range of motion exercises. The authors reviewed thirteen cases of ipsilateral fractures of the humerus, radius and ulna treated in our clinic from January 1992 to March 1997, and average follow-up period was over 18 months(range, 12 to 36 months). The results obtained were as follows; 1. The most common cause of injury was traffic accident and most common location of fractures was mid-third in both humerus and forearm. 2. The shape of fractures was transverse or comminuted in most cases. 3. The good clinical results were obtained by open reduction and internal fixation of both the humerus and the forearm fracture with early initiation of range of motion exercises. 4. The recovery was affected by the severity of the initial trauma and method of the treatment. 5. According to the Lange and Foster method, the functional result was good in 8 cases, fair in 4 cases and poor in 1 cases.

Key Words: Humerus and forearm; Fracture; Ipsilateral