Surgical treatment of acute displaced fractures of adult distal humerus with reconstruction plate.

We evaluated the results of the use of AO reconstruction plates in the open reduction and internal fixation of acute displaced fractures of the adult distal humerus. This was a retrospective study of such patients where the main surgical strategy was open reduction and internal fixation with AO reconstruction plates. From 1992 to 1998, 40 patients were included. Average follow-up was 98 (60-127) months. All the fractures united with the union time of 11.7 (9-16) weeks. Early post-operative complications developed in four patients (10%), including wound infection in two (5%) and iatrogenic ulnar neuropathy in another two (5%). At follow-up, 24 (60%) patients developed grade 1 osteoarthritis and eight (20%) developed grade 2 osteoarthritis. Thirty-five patients (87.5%) got good to excellent functional results and 35 cases (87.5%) were satisfied with their surgical results. In conclusion, open reduction and internal fixation with AO reconstruction plate is very useful and effective in the treatment of displaced fractures of the adult distal humerus.