Treatment of Supracondylar Humerus Fracture in Adults by Parallel Plates

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of parallel plates for the treatment of supracondylar humerus fractures in adults. Patients and Methods: This study included 20 adult patients with supracondylar humerus fractures. They were treated by open reduction and internal fixation by parallel plates through olecranon osteotomy technique. They were followed up clinically and radiologically for 6 months. On admission, all were assessed by careful history taking and detailed clinical examination. The preoperative radiological workup was performed by antero-posterior and lateral radiographs of the elbow with traction and computed tomography was performed with three-dimensional reconstruction. Postoperative, patients were assessed after 2, 4, 8, 12 weeks and 6 months of surgery, with clinical and radiological evaluations and assessed for pain, swelling, range of joint motion and radiological union. The functional assessment of the patient was done according to Mayo elbow performance index and the outcome was graded into excellent, good, poor and fair. RESULTS: The excellent outcome was achieved among 55.0%, while 30.0% had good, 10% had fair and 5.0% had poor outcome. The overall complication rate was 30.0% and the commonest were pain and stiffness (15.0% for each). The mean±SD times to clinical and radiological union were 12.75 ± 6.44 and 14.70 ± 7.84 weeks, respectively. The excellent outcome was significantly associated with lower rate of complications and shorter time to clinical and radiological union. CONCLUSION: Parallel plates for the treatment of adult supracondylar humerus fractures could be considered safe and effective technique, leading to good functional outcome and a complication rate comparable to published literature.