Intercondylar T-fractures of the humerus in adults

The intercondylar T-fractures of the distal humerus in adult are difficult fractures to manage and various recommendations for treatment have been presented. Thirty-nine patients with these fractures were treated as in-patients at the Departments of Orthopaedic Surgery in Gothenburg 1973-1977. Twenty-eight fractures were treated surgically and eleven conservatively. Best results were seen in patients treated with exact anatomical reduction and stable internal fixation. From this study we concluded that: A perfect reduction which is necessary for good final result is difficult to achieve with closed methods and most of these fractures should be treated by open reduction and stable internal fixation.