External fixation of the elbow: a case report

Authors

Keywords:

elbow fracture, external fixation of the elbow, open fracture

Abstract

Introduction: fractures of the distal end of the humerus are treated conservatively or surgically. Other methods used are primary arthroplasty and external fixation.
Patient information: 75-year-old male patient presented to the On-Call Corps with pain and enlargement of the left elbow after a fall from his bicycle. It was decided to take him to the emergency operating room to perform toilette and debridement of the wound and the grading was done.
Conclusions: fractures of the distal humerus in the elderly are a challenge for the specialist in orthopedic surgery due to the complexity of the injury and the characteristics of age, among which osteoporosis stands out. External fixation in this group of patients is very useful and offers favorable results.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Alejandro Álvarez López, Hospital Provincial Pediátrico Universitario "Dr. Eduardo Agramonte Piña"

Especialista de I y II Grado en Ortopedia y Traumatología. Máster en Urgencias Médicas. Doctor en Ciencias Médicas. Profesor e Investigador Titular en la Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Camagüey.

Valentina Valdebenito Aceitón, Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción, Concepción, Chile

Estudiante de Medicina

Sergio Ricardo Soto-Carrasco, Servicio de Salud del Reloncaví, Chaitén, Los Lagos, Chile Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción, Concepción, Chile

Médico Cirujano. Profesor en la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción, Concepción, Chile.

Maikel Fernández Delgado, Hospital Provincial Clínico Quirúrgico Universitario “Manuel Ascunce Domenech”

Especialista de I Grado en Ortopedia y Traumatología. Profesor en la Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Camagüey.

References

1.Midtgaard KS, Ruzbarsky JJ, Hackett TR, Viola RW. Elbow fractures. Clin Sports Med [Internet]. 2020 [citado 12/05/2022];39(3):623-636. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32446579/. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csm.2020.03.002

2.Sanchez D, Horwitz DS. Distal humerus fractures. En: Horwitz DS, Suk M, Swenson TK. Tips and Tricks for problem Fractures. Vol I. Philadelphia: Springer; 2020. p. 67-82.

3.Egol KA, Koval KJ, Zuckerman J. Handbook of fractures. 6th ed. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer; 2020. p. 231-245.

4.Fortis-Olmedo IO, Avalos-Arroyo G, Romo-Rodríguez R. Fractura compleja de codo. Acta Ortop Mex [Internet]. 2019 [citado 12/05/2022];33(5):329-332. Disponible en: https://www.medigraphic.com/pdfs/ortope/or-2019/or195m.pdf

5.Raniga S, Athwal GS. Distal humerus fractures. En: Tornetta P, Ricci WM, Ostrum RF, McQueen MM, McKee MD, Court Brown CM. Rockwood and Green's Fractures in Adults. 9th ed. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer; 2020. p. 2216-2317.

6.Chin TY, Chou H, Peh WCG. The acutely injured elbow. Radiol Clin North Am [Internet]. 2019 [citado 12/05/2022];57(5):911-930. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31351541/. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rcl.2019.03.006

7.Pizzoli A, Bondi M, Schirru L, Bortolazzi R. The use of articulated external fixation for complex elbow trauma treatment. Musculoskelet Surg [Internet]. 2021 [citado 12/05/2022];105(1):75-87. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31776870/. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12306-019-00632-z

8.Kösters C, Lenschow S, Schulte-Zurhausen E, Roßlenbroich S, Raschke MJ, Schliemann B. Management of comminuted fractures of the distal humerus: clinical outcome after primary external fixation versus immediate fixation with locking plates. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg [Internet]. 2017 [citado 12/05/2022];137(12):1693-1698. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28929365/. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-017-2792-x

9.Leschinger T, Ott N, Hackl M, Wegmann K, Müller LP. External fixator of the elbow. Oper Orthop Traumatol [Internet]. 2020 [citado 12/05/2022];32(5):387-395. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32959082/. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00064-020-00676-6

10.Aithal HP, Kinjavdekar P, Pawde AM, Dubey P, Kumar R, Tyagi SK, et al. Epoxy-pin external skeletal fixation for management of open bone fractures in calves and foals: a review of 32 cases. Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol [Internet]. 2019 [citado 12/05/2022];32(3):257-268. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30921823/. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0039-1678736

11.AlQahtani S, Aibinder WR, Parry JA, Seltser A, Athwal GS, King GJW, et al. Static and dynamic external fixation are equally effective for unstable elbow fracture-dislocations. J Orthop Trauma [Internet]. 2021 [citado 12/05/2022];35(3):e82-e88. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32576775/. https://doi.org/10.1097/bot.0000000000001876

12.Rinat B, Dujovny E, Bor N, Rozen N, Rubin G. Can a linear external fixator stand as a surgical alternative to open reduction in treating a high-grade supracondylar humerus fracture? J Int Med Res [Internet]. 2019 [citado 12/05/2022];47(1):133-141. Disponible en: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmid/30198367/. https://doi.org/10.1177/0300060518797022

Published

2023-10-31

How to Cite

1.
Álvarez López A, Valdebenito Aceitón V, Soto-Carrasco SR, Fernández Delgado M. External fixation of the elbow: a case report. Acta Méd Centro [Internet]. 2023 Oct. 31 [cited 2025 Jun. 27];17(4):785-90. Available from: https://revactamedicacentro.sld.cu/index.php/amc/article/view/1808