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Abstract

Background: Surgical management of inter-condylar fractures of humerus includes various approaches of open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF), with each having its merits and demerits. In this study we analyzed Campbell’s and trans-olecranon osteotomy approaches for ORIF of inter-condylar fracture of humerus in terms of adequacy of exposure and functional rehabilitation.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at Combined Military Hospital Peshawar, CMH Rawalpindi and PNS Shifa, Karachi from 1999 to 2005.
Patients and Methods: A total of 43 patients with T/Y fracture of distal humerus were divided into two groups (Gp). Gp A comprising of 22 patients were operated by Campbell’s approach while Gp B having 21 patients were operated by trans-olecranon osteotomy approach. The mean age of Gp A and B were 36.95 ± 4.21 (range: 27-49 yrs) and 35.71 ± 5.17 (range: 21-45 yrs) respectively. Follow up of patients varied from 3 to 9 months and they were evaluated for functional results.
Results: Mean operating time was significantly longer in Gp B (mean 124.28±31.32 min) as compared to Gp A (mean 100.40 ± 25.78 min) (P-value 0.022). Functional results were evaluated based upon the criteria of Risen-borough and Radin. Gp A shows 59.09% good results and 27.27% fair results which were comparable to the results of Gp B i.e 57.14% good and 33.33% fair.
Conclusion: This study proved that both the approaches for internal fixation of type 2 and 3 inter-condylar fractures of humerus with minimum or no intra-articular comminution are comparable in terms of functional results.