The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (American). 2009;91:38-49.
doi:10.2106/JBJS.H.01195
© 2009 The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Inc.
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Open Reduction and Internal Fixation of Capitellar Fractures with Headless Screws

Surgical Technique

David E. Ruchelsman, MD1, Nirmal C. Tejwani, MD1, Young W. Kwon, MD, PhD1 and Kenneth A. Egol, MD1

1 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, New York University Hospital for Joint Diseases, 301 East 17th Street, 14th Floor (D.E.R., N.C.T., and K.A.E.) and 4th Floor (Y.W.K.), New York, NY 10003. E-mail address for D.E. Ruchelsman: David.Ruchelsman{at}nyumc.org. E-mail address for N.C. Tejwani: Nirmal.Tejwani{at}nyumc.org. E-mail address for Y.W. Kwon: Young.Kwon{at}nyumc.org. E-mail address for K.A. Egol: Kenneth.Egol{at}nyumc.org

Investigation performed at the New York University Hospital for Joint Diseases, New York, NY

The original scientific article in which the surgical technique was presented was published in JBJS Vol. 90-A, pp. 1321-9, June 2008

DISCLOSURE: The authors did not receive any outside funding or grants in support of their research for or preparation of this work. Neither they nor a member of their immediate families received payments or other benefits or a commitment or agreement to provide such benefits from a commercial entity.

A video supplement to this article will be availa ble from the Video Journal of Orthopaedics. A video clip will be available at the JBJS web site, www.jbjs.org. The Video Journal of Orthopaedics can be contacted at (805) 962-3410, web site: www.vjortho.com.

The line drawings in this article are the work of Joanne Haderer Müller of Haderer & Müller (biomedart{at}haderermuller.com).

BACKGROUND: The outcome of operatively treated capitellar fractures has not been reported frequently. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the clinical, radiographic, and functional outcomes following open reduction and internal fixation of capitellar fractures that were treated with a uniform surgical approach in order to further define the impact on the outcome of fracture type and concomitant lateral column osseous and/or ligamentous injuries.

METHODS: A retrospective evaluation of the upper extremity database at our institution identified sixteen skeletally mature patients (mean age, 40 ± 17 years) with a closed capitellar fracture. In all cases, an extensile lateral exposure and articular fixation with buried cannulated variable-pitch headless compression screws was performed at a mean of ten days after the injury. Clinical, radiographic, and elbow-specific outcomes, including the Mayo Elbow Performance Index, were evaluated at a mean of 27 ± 19 months postoperatively.

RESULTS: Six Type-I, two Type-III, and eight Type-IV fractures were identified with use of the Bryan and Morrey classification system. Four of five ipsilateral radial head fractures occurred in association with a Type-IV fracture. The lateral collateral ligament was intact in fifteen of the sixteen elbows. Metaphyseal comminution was observed in association with five fractures (including four Type-IV fractures and one Type-III fracture). Supplemental mini-fragment screws were used for four of eight Type-IV fractures and one of two Type-III fractures. All fractures healed, and no elbow had instability or weakness. Overall, the mean ulnohumeral motion was 123° (range, 70° to 150°). Fourteen of the sixteen patients achieved a functional arc of elbow motion, and all patients had full forearm rotation. The mean Mayo Elbow Performance Index score was 92 ± 10 points, with nine excellent results, six good results, and one fair result. Patients with a Type-IV fracture had a greater magnitude of flexion contracture (p = 0.04), reduced terminal flexion (p = 0.02), and a reduced net ulnohumeral arc (p = 0.01). An ipsilateral radial head fracture did not appear to affect ulnohumeral motion or the functional outcome.

CONCLUSIONS: Despite the presence of greater flexion contractures at the time of follow-up in elbows with Type-IV fractures or fractures with an ipsilateral radial head fracture, good to excellent outcomes with functional ulnohumeral motion can be achieved following internal fixation of these complex fractures. Type-IV injuries may be more common than previously thought; such fractures often are associated with metaphyseal comminution or a radial head fracture and may require supplemental fixation.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.


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