| Summary: | Objective: AO (Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen) type C distal humerus fractures are difficult fractures to reduce and fix due to the difficulty of the elbow anatomy and small size of the broken bone parts. We hypothesize that although parallel plating technique is biomechanically superior for humerus distal fracture, orthogonal plating technique in clinical conditions is as reliable and effective as a method of parallel plating for Type C humerus fractures.
Materials and Methods: Between 2012 and 2018, 36 patients who underwent operations for AO type C distal humerus fractures and met the inclusion criteria were evaluated retrospectively. Parallel plating was performed in 20 patients and orthogonal plating (medial and posterolateral plating) in 16 patients. All patients were fixed with LC-DCP plates. Quick DASH, Mayo elbow, and VAS scores; grip strength; elbow ROM (Range of Motion); extension loss; and evaluations complications at the last visit.
Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of the Quick DASH, Mayo elbow, or VAS scores, grip strength, elbow ROM, extension loss, union time, postoperative heterotrophic ossification, elbow and olecranon nonunion, post-op neuropraxia, or other complications (P > 0.05). There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding ulnar nerve transposition (P
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