Elbow hemiarthroplasty versus open reduction and internal fixation for AO/OTA type 13 C2 and C3 fractures of distal humerus in patients aged 50 years or above: a randomized controlled trial

Low risk of postoperative ulnar nerve affection in surgically treated distal humeral fractures when the nerve is released in situ

BACKGROUND

Adult distal humeral fractures (DHF) comprise 2%-5% of all fractures and 30% of all elbow fractures. Treatment of DHF may be technically demanding due to fracture complexity and proximity of neurovascular structures. Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) are often the treatment of choice, but arthroplasty is considered in case of severe comminution or in elderly patients with poor bone quality. Ulnar nerve affection following surgical treatment of distal humerus fractures is a well-recognized complication.

AIM

To report the risk of ulnar nerve affection after surgery for acute DHFs.

METHODS

We retrospectively identified 239 consecutive adult patients with acute DHFs who underwent surgery with ORIF, elbow hemiarthroplasty (EHA) or total elbow arthroplasty (TEA) between January 2011 and December 2019. In all cases, the ulnar nerve was released in situ without anterior transposition. We used our institutional database to review patients’ medical records for demographics, fracture morphology, type of surgery and ulnar nerve affection immediately; records were reviewed after surgery and at 2 wk and 12 wk of routine clinical outpatient follow-up. Twenty-nine percent patients were excluded due to pre- or postoperative conditions. Final follow-up examination was a telephone interview in which ulnar nerve affection was reported according to the McGowen Classification Score. A total of 210 patients were eligible for interview, but 13 patients declined participation and 17 patients failed to respond. Thus, 180 patients were included.

RESULTS

Mean age at surgery was 64 years (range 18-88 years); 121 (67.3%) patients were women; 59 (32.7%) were men. According to the AO/OTA classification system, we recorded 47 patients with type A3, 55 patients with type B and 78 patients with type C fractures. According to the McGowen Classification Score, mild ulnar nerve affection was reported in nine patients; severe affection, in two. A total of 69 patients were treated with ORIF of whom three had mild temporary ulnar nerve affection and one had severe ulnar nerve affection. In all, 111 patients were treated with arthroplasty (67 EHA, 44 TEA) of whom seven had mild ulnar nerve affection and one had severe persistent ulnar nerve affection. No further treatment was provided.

CONCLUSION

The risk of ulnar nerve affection after surgical treatment for acute DHF is low when the ulnar nerve is released in situ without nerve transposition, independently of the treatment provided.

A Novel Hemiarthroplasty Design for Treatment of Post-traumatic Elbow Ankylosis and Distal Humerus Nonunion: A Case Report

CASE

A 26 year old man sustained a blast injury to the right elbow, resulting in chronic distal humerus nonunion and post-traumatic ankylosis. After debridement and flap coverage, a custom distal humerus hemiarthroplasty construct with extramedullary orthogonal plating was used. Satisfaction and functional outcomes were maintained through 6 years of follow-up.

CONCLUSION

This case presents a unique 1-stage surgical solution which demonstrates the potential for uncemented extramedullary hemiarthroplasty fixation with simultaneous compression plate osteosynthesis across a nonunion site. The potential for hemiarthroplasty designs to be linked to orthogonal plates preserves the intramedullary canal for future conversion to total elbow arthroplasty if necessary.

Elbow arthroplasty research methods, outcome domains, and instruments used in clinical outcome studies : a scoping review

AIMS

Arthroplasties of the elbow, including total elbow arthroplasty, radial head arthroplasty, distal humeral hemiarthroplasty, and radiocapitellar arthroplasty, are rarely undertaken. This scoping review aims to outline the current research in this area to inform the development of future research.

METHODS

A scoping review was undertaken adhering to the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines using Medline, Embase, CENTRAL, and trial registries, limited to studies published between 1 January 1990 and 7 February 2021. Endnote software was used for screening and selection, and included randomized trials, non-randomized controlled trials, prospective and retrospective cohort studies, case-control studies, analytical cross-sectional studies, and case series of ten or more patients reporting the clinical outcomes of elbow arthroplasty. The results are presented as the number of types of studies, sample size, length of follow-up, clinical outcome domains and instruments used, sources of funding, and a narrative review.

RESULTS

A total of 362 studies met the inclusion criteria. Most were of total elbow arthroplasty (246; 68%), followed by radial head arthroplasty (100; 28%), distal humeral hemiarthroplasty (11; 3%), and radiocapitellar arthroplasty (5; 1%). Most were retrospective (326; 90%) and observational (315; 87%). The median sample size for all types of implant across all studies was 36 (interquartile range (IQR) 21 to 75). The median length of follow-up for all studies was 56 months (IQR 36 to 81). A total of 583 unique outcome descriptors were used and were categorized into 18 domains. A total of 105 instruments were used to measure 39 outcomes.

CONCLUSION

We found that most of the literature dealing with elbow arthroplasty consists of retrospective observational studies with small sample sizes and short follow-up. Many outcomes have been used with many different instruments for their measurement, indicating a need to define a core set of outcomes and instruments for future research in this area.Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2022;104-B(10):1148-1155.

Hemiarthroplasty for the treatment of distal humerus fractures: long-term clinical results

BACKGROUND

Total elbow arthroplasty is a treatment for unreconstructable distal humerus fractures; implant longevity remains a concern, especially in younger patients. However, distal humeral hemiarthroplasty (DHH) offers an alternative with potential long-term advantages.

METHODS

This is a retrospective study of 10 patients who underwent DHH for distal humerus fractures over a 4-year period (2008-2012) by a single surgeon. Patients underwent testing of range of motion, Mayo Elbow Performance Scores (MEPS), Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire (DASH), visual analog scale (VAS), Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE), Simple Shoulder Test, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Standardized Shoulder Assessment Form (ASES) scores. Average patient age at surgery was 71.9 years (range 56-81 years); average follow-up was 115.2 months (range 96-144 months).

RESULTS

Patients maintained improvements in MEPS (mean 88, range 75-100) and DASH scores (mean 37.1, range 11.21-55.09), along with no statistically significant decrease in range of motion or scores in comparison to either short- or midterm results. Mean VAS score was 2.2 (range 0-7), SANE 69 (range 55-85), ASES 76.66 (range 51.67-100), and CCI 4.3 (range 1-7). Participants had an average flexion of 126° (range: 90°-140°), extension of 36° (range: 30°-45°), supination of 66° (range: 60°-70°), and pronation of 64° (range: 45°-80°). No elbow dislocations, subluxations, or heterotopic ossification were observed. Complications included 1 fracture and 1 complaint of prominent hardware. Four patients were deceased, and 1 patient was lost to follow-up.

CONCLUSION

This long-term review suggests that DHH may be an effective treatment for certain distal humerus fractures. The data suggest that elbow range of motion and functional use are maintained from comparison with short- and midterm studies, with no appreciable change in radiographic cartilage wear along the radius or ulna.

Distal humerus hemiarthroplasty for trauma: a systematic review of the outcomes and complications

BACKGROUND

In patients with distal humerus fractures that are unreconstructible, total elbow arthroplasty is an established alternative to open reduction-internal fixation. Distal humerus hemiarthroplasty is a further alternative to avoid the significant lifestyle limitations associated with total elbow arthroplasty. Distal humerus hemiarthroplasty is an increasingly popular treatment option for unreconstructible distal humeral fractures not amenable to reconstruction. The aim of this systematic review was to assess the literature regarding the functional outcomes and complications of the use of distal humerus hemiarthroplasty for acute trauma.

METHODS

A systematic review of the PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases was performed. The search terms included "distal humerus fracture" OR "elbow fracture" AND "hemiarthroplasty" OR "arthroplasty" OR "replacement." Studies were limited to those published in the English language with reported functional outcome measures and complications. Patient demographic characteristics, implant systems, clinical outcomes (range of motion and functional outcome scores), and complications were extracted.

RESULTS

Thirteen studies with a total of 207 patients met the inclusion criteria. The average age ranged from 44 to 79 years, with the mean length of follow-up ranging from 11 to 82 months postoperatively. A mean range-of-motion arc ≥ 93° was achieved in all studies, with 11 of 13 studies achieving mean functional range of motion ≥ 100°. All studies reported good to excellent mean outcome scores. Heterotopic ossification, ulnar cartilage wear, stiffness, and ulnar neuropathy were the most commonly encountered complications. The reoperation rate and revision rate were 17% and 3%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Distal humerus hemiarthroplasty is a viable option in the treatment of unreconstructible distal humerus fractures, with good to excellent outcomes expected. Long-term outcome data and the use of distal humerus hemiarthroplasty in younger patients are yet to be fully defined.

Coronal Shear Fractures of the Distal Humerus

Coronal shear fractures of the distal humerus are rare, frequently comminuted, and are without consensus for treatment. The aim of this paper is to review the current concepts on the diagnosis, classification, treatment options, surgical approaches, and complications of capitellar and trochlear fractures. Computed Tomography (CT) scans, along with the Dubberley classification, are extremely helpful in the decision-making process. Most of the fractures necessitate open reduction and internal fixation, although elbow arthroplasty is an option for comminuted fractures in the elderly low-demand patient. Stiffness is the most common complication after fixation, although reoperation is infrequent.

Good functional outcomes after open reduction and internal fixation for AO/OTA type 13-C2 and -C3 acute distal humeral fractures in patients aged over 45 years

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to report the functional outcomes and complications after open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) for Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen (AO)/Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA) type 13-C2 and -C3 acute distal humeral fractures with minimum 2-year follow-up. Our hypothesis was that ORIF would provide functional outcomes that are comparable to those of total elbow arthroplasty and elbow hemiarthroplasty reported in the literature.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

During a 6-year period, 23 patients aged > 45 years were treated with double plating for AO/OTA type 13-C2 or -C3 fractures. The mean age was 62 years (range, 46-80 years). The Oxford Elbow Score was used as the primary outcome; the Mayo Elbow Performance Score, pain severity score (on a visual analog scale), range of motion, reoperations, and complications were used as secondary outcomes.

RESULTS

The median Oxford Elbow Score was 42 (range, 25-48), where a score of 48 represents a normal elbow; 20 patients achieved good to excellent outcomes, and 3 achieved fair outcomes. The median Mayo Elbow Performance Score was 85 (range, 60-100), where a score of 100 represents a normal elbow; 18 patients achieved good to excellent outcomes, and 5 achieved fair outcomes. The median visual analog scale score was 2 (range, 0-5). The median flexion-extension and supination-pronation arcs were 120° (range, 70°-155°) and 160° (range, 75°-170°), respectively. Eight complications were recorded in 7 patients; 4 of them required reoperation because of fracture pseudarthrosis or elbow stiffness. Ten patients were working at the time of trauma, and nine of them returned to the same occupation. Our results are comparable to the results of previously published studies regarding the outcome of ORIF, elbow hemiarthroplasty, or total elbow arthroplasty for AO/OTA type 13-C fractures.

CONCLUSION

ORIF is a reliable treatment option for AO/OTA type 13-C2 and -C3 acute distal humeral fractures in middle-aged and elderly patients, despite the considerable rate of complications. Good to excellent results can be obtained in most patients.