ABSTRACT
Distal humerus fractures in the elderly population are challenging injuries. Treatment can be controversial and must be tailored to each injury and each patient. Historical treatment methods include nonsurgical treatment—the “bag of bones” technique. However, poor functional results and advancements in available implants have shifted the majority of surgeons to recommend operative treatment. Options for surgery include total elbow arthroplasty and open reduction with internal fixation. The experience of the surgeon as well as the characteristics of the patient and the injury serve to guide surgical decision-making. While total elbow arthroplasty is considered for some injuries and some patients, we treat the majority of these injuries with open reduction and internal fixation. We present our surgical setup, operative technique, and postoperative protocols as possible options for treatment of these challenging injuries.
