Operative treatment of distal humeral fractures in the elderly. ³

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John H. Rosso R. Neff U. Bodoky A. Regazzoni P. Harder F. Department of Surgery, University Hospital of Basle, Switzerland. Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery - British Volume. 76(5):793-6, 1994 Sep. We treated 49 patients at an average age of 80 years (75 to 90) with distal mostly intraarticular humeral fractures by open reduction. There were 8 class A, 13 class B and 28 class C fractures on Muller's classification. The patients were reviewed at a postoperative average of 18 months. The patients' assessment of the result was very good in 31%, good in 49%, fair in 15% and poor in 5%. The flexion-extension range was very good in 41%, good in 44% and fair in 15%. The incidence of implant failure, pseudarthrosis of the olecranon osteotomy and ulnar nerve lesion was no higher in these elderly patients than in younger patients. Old age is not a contraindication to open reduction and internal fixation; it is important to restore full function. *