Open deduction and internal fixation of the distal humerus: Functional outcome in the elderly

Objective: To examine the functional outcome of a cohort of elderly patients after open reduction and internal plate and screw fixation of distal humerus fractures. Design: Retrospective review of a consecutive series of patients older than 60 years of age who underwent plate and screw fixation of a distal humerus fracture. Materials and Methods: Eighteen patients, aged 63 to 85 years (average, 71 years), underwent open reduction and internal fixation of a displaced distal humerus fracture using plates and screws, Three were Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur Osteosynthesefragen/Association for the Study of Internal Fixation (AO/ASIF) type A, 2 were type B, and 13 were type C fractures, The patients were reviewed at a minimum follow-up of 1 year after surgery. Measurements and Main Results: All patients had a good or excellent clinical result using a standardized method of evaluation, General health status, as measured by the SF-36 Health Survey, was comparable to the published norms for U.S. male and female populations of similar age. Conclusion: Open reduction and internal fixation of the distal humerus in the elderly can provide good clinical results, Good clinical results, however, do not imply good general health status.