Adult distal humeral comminuted fracture

  Most distal humeral fractures are due to indirect violence. Supracondylar fractures of the humerus occur in sports injuries, life injuries and traffic accidents. The fracture is usually divided into extension and flexion type, and the extension type is divided into extension ulnar deviation type and extension radial deviation type according to the displacement of the fracture. Clinical manifestations: Patients are mostly seen in children, with a history of trauma and localized immobility and swelling of the elbow joint after the injury. The presence of the bony triangular relationship of the elbow indicates that it is not dislocated. The elbow is in a semi-flexed position and the elbow fossa is full. Sometimes the fractured end of the humerus can be palpated in the elbow fossa. If careful examination cannot be done due to heavy swelling and pain, X-ray frontal and lateral views should be taken quickly to determine the fracture and displacement. In the case of a simple humeral tuberosity fracture, the radial longitudinal axis can be found on the X-ray without passing through the tuberosity and the diagnosis is confirmed. Radial artery pulsation and median nerve function should be noted in the diagnosis. An extension type supracondylar humerus fracture is characterized by a fracture line located at or above the level of the hawk’s nest in the lower humerus, a fracture that is oriented anteriorly down to posteriorly up, a fracture that is angled forward, and a distal fracture end that is displaced posteriorly. In flexion-type supracondylar humeral fractures, the fracture line may be transverse, the fracture is angled posteriorly, and the distal fracture end is displaced forward or not significantly displaced. The main auxiliary examination for this disease is X-ray examination: when using X-ray examination, in addition to frontal and lateral radiographs, special postural photographs should be taken according to the condition of the injury, and body layer films or CT examinations should be performed as appropriate.  The treatment of this disease requires appropriate treatment according to the condition: 1. Green branch fracture No displacement of the fracture end, if the anteversion angle disappears, no repositioning is required; if the anteversion angle increases, gentle repositioning is performed under brachial plexus or general anesthesia, and the long-arm cast is fixed in a functional position for 3-4 weeks.  2. Displaced fracture: repositioning by manipulation under brachial plexus or general anesthesia, with long-arm cast fixation for 4-6 weeks.  3. Traction treatment For fractures that are more than 24 to 48 hours old, have severe soft tissue swelling and blister formation, cannot be repositioned manually, or are unstable after repositioning.  Surgical treatment is suitable for those who fail to reposition the fracture manually, open fracture, fracture combined with vascular injury, fracture deformity connection or serious deformity of elbow inversion or valgus, and osteotomy is feasible.