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Triceps-off trans-fascial sleeve approach, functional outcomes and surgical technique in Distal Humerus fractures

Purpose: We aimed to assess functional and clinical outcomes of patients who underwent open reduction and internal fixation of distal intra-articular fractures of the humerus through a previously undescribed approach through the triceps tendon called the Triceps-Off, Transfascial Sleeve (TOFS) appro...

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Main Author: Nkomo, Woyisile
Other Authors: Solomons, Mike
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: Division of General Surgery 2023
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access_status_str Open Access
author Nkomo, Woyisile
author2 Solomons, Mike
author_browse Nkomo, Woyisile
Solomons, Mike
author_facet Solomons, Mike
Nkomo, Woyisile
author_sort Nkomo, Woyisile
collection Thesis
description Purpose: We aimed to assess functional and clinical outcomes of patients who underwent open reduction and internal fixation of distal intra-articular fractures of the humerus through a previously undescribed approach through the triceps tendon called the Triceps-Off, Transfascial Sleeve (TOFS) approach. Method: We conducted an Ambispective cohort study of 10 patients who underwent open reduction and internal fixation of the distal humerus through the TOFS approach at a tertiary hospital between March 2016 and January 2019. Patients were identified from the prospectively kept surgical database. All had AO type C fractures of the distal humerus. The mean age was 36.7 ± 14.9 years (range 19 to 68). The assessment consisted of a review of their hospital records, range of motion, triceps strength, ultrasound evaluation of triceps tendon integrity, X-rays for union rates and adequacy of reduction, and DASH scores. Results: The mean time of follow up was 10.8 ± 4.7 months (range 6 to 19). The mean arc of motion was 114.7 ± 25.1 degrees (range 80 to 150 degrees). There was a decrease in mean triceps muscle strength compared to the uninjured side; 66% at 45 degrees of flexion, 70% at 90 degrees and 86% at 120 degrees of elbow flexion. The mean DASH score was 15.7 ± 8.9 indicating mild residual impairment (range 5 to 31). The DASH score had a strong correlation (r = 0.71; p<0.05) with the follow-up period. All tendons were intact on ultrasound evaluation. One patient had deep surgical site infection, treated with surgical debridement, antibiotics and plate removal with resolution of sepsis and healing. All fractures united by 6 months. Conclusion: TOFS is a successful surgical approach for reduction and fixation of AO Type C intra-articular distal humerus fractures, with excellent tendon healing rates. It is however, associated with mild residual functional impairment and residual triceps weakness.
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institution University of Cape Town (South Africa)
language eng
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license_str Not specified — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository
publishDate 2023
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spelling oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/38131 Triceps-off trans-fascial sleeve approach, functional outcomes and surgical technique in Distal Humerus fractures Nkomo, Woyisile Solomons, Mike Roche Stephen Maqungu, Sithombo Orthopaedic Surgery Purpose: We aimed to assess functional and clinical outcomes of patients who underwent open reduction and internal fixation of distal intra-articular fractures of the humerus through a previously undescribed approach through the triceps tendon called the Triceps-Off, Transfascial Sleeve (TOFS) approach. Method: We conducted an Ambispective cohort study of 10 patients who underwent open reduction and internal fixation of the distal humerus through the TOFS approach at a tertiary hospital between March 2016 and January 2019. Patients were identified from the prospectively kept surgical database. All had AO type C fractures of the distal humerus. The mean age was 36.7 ± 14.9 years (range 19 to 68). The assessment consisted of a review of their hospital records, range of motion, triceps strength, ultrasound evaluation of triceps tendon integrity, X-rays for union rates and adequacy of reduction, and DASH scores. Results: The mean time of follow up was 10.8 ± 4.7 months (range 6 to 19). The mean arc of motion was 114.7 ± 25.1 degrees (range 80 to 150 degrees). There was a decrease in mean triceps muscle strength compared to the uninjured side; 66% at 45 degrees of flexion, 70% at 90 degrees and 86% at 120 degrees of elbow flexion. The mean DASH score was 15.7 ± 8.9 indicating mild residual impairment (range 5 to 31). The DASH score had a strong correlation (r = 0.71; p<0.05) with the follow-up period. All tendons were intact on ultrasound evaluation. One patient had deep surgical site infection, treated with surgical debridement, antibiotics and plate removal with resolution of sepsis and healing. All fractures united by 6 months. Conclusion: TOFS is a successful surgical approach for reduction and fixation of AO Type C intra-articular distal humerus fractures, with excellent tendon healing rates. It is however, associated with mild residual functional impairment and residual triceps weakness. 2023-07-19T06:11:37Z 2023-07-19T06:11:37Z 2023 2023-07-19T06:08:54Z Master Thesis Masters MMed http://hdl.handle.net/11427/38131 eng application/pdf Division of General Surgery Faculty of Health Sciences
spellingShingle Orthopaedic Surgery
Nkomo, Woyisile
Triceps-off trans-fascial sleeve approach, functional outcomes and surgical technique in Distal Humerus fractures
thesis_degree_str Master's
title Triceps-off trans-fascial sleeve approach, functional outcomes and surgical technique in Distal Humerus fractures
title_full Triceps-off trans-fascial sleeve approach, functional outcomes and surgical technique in Distal Humerus fractures
title_fullStr Triceps-off trans-fascial sleeve approach, functional outcomes and surgical technique in Distal Humerus fractures
title_full_unstemmed Triceps-off trans-fascial sleeve approach, functional outcomes and surgical technique in Distal Humerus fractures
title_short Triceps-off trans-fascial sleeve approach, functional outcomes and surgical technique in Distal Humerus fractures
title_sort triceps off trans fascial sleeve approach functional outcomes and surgical technique in distal humerus fractures
topic Orthopaedic Surgery
url http://hdl.handle.net/11427/38131
work_keys_str_mv AT nkomowoyisile tricepsofftransfascialsleeveapproachfunctionaloutcomesandsurgicaltechniqueindistalhumerusfractures