Double Tension Band Osteosynthesis in Inter-Condylar Humeral Fractures

Area of Science:

• Orthopaedic Surgery
• Traumatology
• Skeletal Repair

Background:

• Intercondylar humerus fractures are infrequent in orthopaedic practice.
• Current treatments primarily involve plate fixation; tension band wiring is less documented.
• This study explores an alternative surgical technique for these complex fractures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the efficacy of "Double Tension Band wiring" for treating intercondylar humerus fractures.
• To compare outcomes of this technique against those reported for locked plate fixation.
• To determine the reliability and effectiveness of this surgical approach.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective evaluation of 20 patients with fresh distal humerus intercondylar fractures treated with double tension band wiring over three years.
• Fracture classification using Jupiter and AO systems (all AO C1).
• Analysis of surgical time, union rates, range of motion, and clinical outcomes.

Main Results:

• All 20 patients achieved rigid fixation and union.
• Radiological union occurred at an average of 10.8 weeks.
• 80% of patients experienced excellent or good functional outcomes with an average range of motion of 104.5 degrees.

Conclusions:

• Double tension band wiring is a dependable, straightforward, and economical method for fixing intercondylar humerus fractures.
• The technique demonstrates favorable clinical and radiological results.
• This method presents a viable alternative for managing these specific fracture types.