OBJECTIVE: We conducted a study to evaluate the functional outcomes of elderly @entity1 after open reduction internal fixation of @entity7334 . DESIGN: Retrospective clinical and radiographic evaluation. SETTING: A Level I trauma and tertiary referral center. @entity1 / @entity1 : We identified 23 eligible @entity1 aged older than 65 years from the center's orthopaedic trauma registry between 1997 and 2005. Fourteen @entity1 were available for follow-up. We had a mean follow-up of 51 months with a range of 20 to 99 months. INTERVENTION: All enrolled @entity1 were acutely treated with open reduction internal fixation of their distal humerus. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: All enrolled @entity1 were contacted and evaluated radiographically and with physical examination. Functional outcome was assessed with the Mayo Elbow Performance, Disabilities of Arm and Shoulder and Hand, and Musculoskeletal Functional Assessment functional questionnaires. RESULTS: All 14 @entity174 united. The mean Mayo Elbow Performance score was 83. The mean elbow flexion-extension arc was 20   to 120  . There was no significant loss of forearm pronation-supination (P > 0.05) or grip strength (32.6 versus 34.0 lbs, P > 0.05) compared with the contralateral arm. The mean Disabilities of Arm and Shoulder and Hand score was 37.6. Musculoskeletal Functional Assessment scores demonstrated disability with a mean total score of 33.4 (normative 9.3), hand score of 34.7 (normative 3.7), and self-care score of 31.8 (normative 1.7). One @entity1 required reoperation for a @entity1159 . CONCLUSIONS: Intra-articular distal humerus @entity174 are severely disabling @entity130 , particularly in the elderly population. Good results can be achieved with stable fixation and @entity174 union. Despite reasonable range of motion, @entity1 -directed questionnaires revealed persistent @entity158 and functional limitations.

Functional outcome after open reduction internal fixation of XXXX of the distal humerus in the elderly.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'patient', 'PATIENTS', 'PARTICIPANTS'] @entity174 :: ('MESH:D050723', 'Disease') :: ['fractures', 'fracture'] @entity7334 :: ('MESH:D057072', 'Disease') :: ['intra-articular distal humerus fractures'] @entity1159 :: ('MESH:D003286', 'Disease') :: ['disabling flexion contracture'] @entity158 :: ('MESH:D010146', 'Disease') :: ['pain'] @entity130 :: ('MESH:D014947', 'Disease') :: ['injuries']
@entity7334 :: (MESH:D057072,Disease) :: ['intra-articular fractures']
