Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40291218›Full record

ReviewCureus2025

A Systematic Review of Surgical Techniques for the Repair of Capitellar Fractures.

Kashif Memon, Manahil Awan, Lara Alsadoun, Shahzad Ahmad, Samuel Chan, Socrates Kalogrianitis, Arslan A Abro

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Cureus, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Kashif MemonTrauma and Orthopedics, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Birmingham, GBR.
Manahil AwanTrauma and Orthopedics, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Birmingham, GBR.
Lara AlsadounTrauma and Orthopedics, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, GBR.
Shahzad AhmadCardiac Surgery, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Birmingham, GBR.
Samuel ChanTrauma and Orthopedics, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Birmingham, GBR.
Socrates KalogrianitisTrauma and Orthopedics, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Birmingham, GBR.
Arslan A AbroOrthopedics, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Birmingham, GBR.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The rarity of capitellum fractures makes them a thorny problem in orthopedic practice, as fracture reduction and repair to restore joint function within a complex elbow joint are difficult. Properly treated, these fractures can avoid complications such as stiffness, instability, and posttraumatic arthritis. Several surgical techniques optimize patient outcomes, including open reduction with internal fixation using Herbert screws, buttress plating, and headless compression screws (HCS). The choice of technique, however, is determined by many factors, including fracture type, patient characteristics, and surgeon preference. This systematic review compares the clinical and functional outcomes of surgical techniques for capitellar fracture repair. Factors influencing the selection of surgical approach are also reviewed, including fracture complexity, patient demographics, and bone quality. To perform a systematic literature search, we followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and searched the major databases, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science. Search terms included "capitellar fracture", "elbow fracture", and "surgical fixation techniques". Clinical or biomechanical outcomes of capitellar fracture fixation using different surgical techniques were included, including fixation stability, range of motion, healing rates, and complication rates. In detail, three foundational studies were analyzed in depth, with the use of Herbert screws, Kirschner wires, and buttress plating. Clinical trials suggest that Herbert screws enable earlier mobilization and improved functional outcomes, particularly in younger patients with Type I fractures. Biomechanical studies, such as those using HCS with buttress plating, indicate enhanced stability, especially in osteoporotic bone conditions. Factors such as patient age, bone quality, and fracture pattern appear to influence the choice of surgical technique. Herbert screws provide effective fixation and support early mobilization, making them suitable for stable fractures in healthier patients. However, in cases of osteoporotic or complex fractures, augmented techniques, such as buttress plating, may be more appropriate to improve stability and reduce the risk of fixation failure. The selection of surgical techniques for capitellar fractures should take into account patient-specific factors to optimize clinical outcomes, and this review emphasizes the need for a tailored approach in selecting surgical techniques for capitellar fractures.

Indexed as

capitellumfixationfractureoutcome studiespatient outcomessurgical approach

Identifiers

PMID40291218
PMCPMC12034337

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.