ArticleSICOT-J2021
Number of screws in the articular segment of distal humerus AO/OTA C-type fractures treated with open reduction internal fixation is associated with complication rate.
Article in SICOT-J, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 8 citations in OpenAlex.
- Extraarticular distal humeral nonunion: systematic review of literature.Journal of orthopaedics and traumatology : official journal of the Italian Society of Orthopaedics and Traumatology · 2025Pooled it
- Combined Medial and Lateral Approach Versus Paratricipital Approach in Open Reduction and Internal Fixation for Type C Distal Humerus Fracture: A Randomized Controlled Study.Orthopaedic surgery · 2023Trial
- Designing of a Distal Humerus Anatomical Biplanar Locking Fixation Plate.Indian journal of orthopaedics · 2025Article
- Low and high body mass index and lower numbers of screws in the articular segment are risk factors for non-union of distal humeral fractures in the elderly: A multi-center retrospective study (TRON study).Shoulder & elbow · 2024Article
- Distal Humerus Fracture Malunion in Adults: A Case Report and a Review of the Literature.Case reports in orthopedics · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionSurgical treatment of distal humerus fractures can lead to numerous complications. Data suggest that the number of screws in the distal (articular) segment may be associated with complication rate. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the association between a number of screws in the distal segment and complication rate for surgical treatment of distal humerus fractures. We hypothesize that the number of screws in the articular segment of distal humerus AO/OTA C-type fractures treated with open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) will be inversely proportional to the complication rate.
methodsWe performed a single-center retrospective cohort study of 27 patients who underwent ORIF of distal humerus fractures C-type with at least six months of radiographic and clinical follow-up. Clinical outcomes including a range of motion, pain, revision surgery for stiffness and/or heterotopic ossification (HO), nonunion, and persistent ulnar nerve symptoms requiring revision neurolysis were recorded.
resultsIn C-type fractures, the use of three or fewer articular screws was significantly associated with nonunion or loss of fixation (RR 17, p = 0.006). Nineteen of 36 (53%) patients experienced at least one complication. The surgical approach, plate configuration, age, and ulnar nerve treatment (none, in situ release, transposition) were not associated with the need for revision surgery. Men had a higher risk of requiring surgical contracture release due to improving post-operative stiffness (RR 12, p = 0.02).
conclusionIn this retrospective study, the use of three or fewer screws to fix articular fragments in AO type C fractures was a significant risk for nonunion or loss of fixation. Plate configuration and surgical approach did not correlate with outcomes. Men had higher rates of complications and required more frequent revision surgery compared to women.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.