Clinical and radiological results of three different techniques for fixation of the olecranon osteotomy in the surgical treatment of distal humerus fractures: A retrospective comparison of plate-screw, tension band and intramedullary nail

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare clinical and radiological results of three different techniques (plate-screw, tension band, and intramedullary nail) in the fixation of olecranon osteotomy in patients with intercondylar fracture of the distal humerus surgically treated by the olecranon osteotomy approach. Methods: Between January 2010 and December 2018, the study was initiated with 52 patients who underwent an olecranon osteotomy approach for an AO Type C distal humerus fracture. Thirty-seven patients (19 male, 18 female) who had regular control data and a final control examination were included in the study. In osteotomy fixation, we used tension band (K wire cerclage Screw cerclage) in 20 patients, plate screw in eight patients, and intramedullary nail fixation in nine patients. The functional evaluation included a measurement of the range of joint motion (flexion, extension, supination, pronation); MAYO elbow performance score; disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand (DASH) score; and comparative grip strength measurement, and a subjective pain assessment was performed using the visual analogue scale. Results: The mean duration of follow-up was 44 (12 84) months. The mean time to union was 14 (7 32) weeks in patients that achieved union. The mean DASH score was 22 (0 72.7), the mean MAYO elbow performance score was 84 (35 100), and the mean VAS score was 3 (1 7). The mean grip strength was 32 (8 64) kgw in the treated extremity and 37 (17 70) kgw in the intact extremity. No statistically significant difference was detected between olecranon osteotomy fixation methods (tension band, plate-screw osteosynthesis, and intramedullary nailing) in terms of union time, DASH score, MAYO scale score, VAS score, extension, supination, and pronation (P> 0.05). The average grip strength (kgw) was lower than that in the uninvolved extremity, and this ratio was statistically significant (P= 0.04). Conclusion: The results of this study have shown that successful and comparable radiological and functional outcomes can be obtained by all the three different olecranon osteotomy techniques in the surgical treatment of intercondylar fracture of the distal humerus.