ABSTRACT
High-energy injuries may be associated with vascular or nerve damage or breech of the soft-tissue envelope. Some can be reduced and stabilized only by complex surgical techniques; and the tendency to stiffness of the elbow is a constant challenge, best met by prevention through early stabilization and mobilization. The Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen-Association for the Study of Internal Fixation (AO-ASIF) Group has defined three types of distal humeral fracture: Type A – extra-articular supracondylar fracture; Type B – intra-articular unicondylar fracture; Type C – bicondylar fracture with varying degree of comminution. Successful management of elbow fracture-dislocations depends on correct identification of the pattern of injury, application of a treatment algorithm specific to that pattern and based on anatomical principles, and recognition of the underlying 'hidden' soft-tissue injury that can be inferred from the fracture pattern. Elbow fracture-dislocations occur as a result of forces applied through the forearm that act as a long 'lever arm' to multiply forces across the elbow.
