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Quantitative 3-dimensional computed tomography measurement of distal humerus fractures
Kim M Brouwer1, Annelies Bolmers, David Ring
1Harvard Medical School, Orthopaedic Hand and Upper Extremity Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
Purpose:
To measure the average number, size, shape and articular surface area of articular fracture fragments of the distal humerus using quantitative analysis of 3-dimensional computed tomography (3DCT) images.
Materials And Methods:
Forty-eight computed tomography scans of distal humerus fractures were analyzed with quantitative 3DCT (Q3DCT). Twenty-one patients had a capitellum and trochlea fracture, and 27 patients had bicolumnar fractures of the distal humerus. The volume and articular surface area of each articular fracture fragment were measured. A small fragment was defined of having a volume of less than 500 mm(3) or an articular surface of less than 500 mm(2).
Results:
Bicolumnar fractures have a mean of 9.3 fragments, 5.4 small fragments, and 3.7 articular fragments per fracture. Trochlea and capitellum fractures have a mean of 3.6 fragments, 1.5 small fragments, and 2.3 articular fragments per fracture. For each fracture type, the number of small fragments correlated with the total number of fragments.
Conclusion:
Columnar fractures had more articular fragments and more small fragments than trochlea and capitellum fractures.
