Introduction
Methods
Inclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria
Search strategy
Study selection
Data extraction
Results
Study selection
Study characteristics
First author | Included patients (n) | Mean age, years (range) | Mean FU, months (range) | Gender, % male | Coronoid fracture | Radial head fracture |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Van Der Werf [24] | 3 | 52 (41–68) | 52 (31–90) | 100 | OD: 3 AMFa | 0 |
Najd Mazhar [16] | 10 | 39 (27–54) | 31 (24–46) | 90 | RM: 3 type I, 7 type II | M: 2 type I. 8 type 2 |
Chan [2] | 11 | 51 (26–76) | 36 (12–90) | 45 | RM: 11 type II | M: 3 type 1, 8 type 2 |
Chan [1] | 10 | 49 (28–61) | 50 (12–83) | 60 | OD: 9 AMF subtype 2, 1 AMF subtype 3 | 0 |
Foruria [8] | 28 | 40 (17–74) | 32 (12–61) | 54 | OD: 5 tip, 1 AMF subtype 1, 21 AMF subtype 2, 1 AMF subtype 3 | 0 |
Total | 62 | 44 | 36 | 61 | – | – |
Indication algorithms
First author | Van Der Werf [24] | Najd Mazhar [16] | Chan [2] | Chan [1] | Foruria [8] |
Imaging | Joint congruency on 3D CT scans | Joint congruency on AP radiographs, lateral radiographs, and CT scans with ulnohumeral distance < 4 mm on the lateral radiograph | Joint congruency on AP radiographs, lateral radiographs, and CT scans with ulnohumeral distance < 4 mm on the lateral radiograph | Joint congruency on AP radiographs, lateral radiographs, and CT scans | Joint congruency on AP radiographs, lateral radiographs, and CT scans |
Radial column | – | No block in active supination and pronation up to 60° | No block in supination and pronation due to radial head fracture | Negative hyperpronation and gravity varus stress test | Absence of radial head fracture |
Arc of motion | – | Free and stable joint in painless active ROM in the ulnohumeral joint to a minimum of 45° of extension | Stable arc of active motion to a minimum of 30° of extension within the first 10 days after injury | Stable arc of active motion to a minimum of 30° of extension within the first 10–14 days after injury | – |
Others | – | No indication for surgery of the radial head or coronoid | Smaller coronoid fracture (RM Type 1 or 2) | – | Intact sublime tubercle |
No intra-articular fragments | – | Fracture affecting less than 50% of the coronoid height | |||
Motivated and cooperative patient | Skeletal maturity |
Treatment protocols
First author | Van Der Werf [24] | Najd Mazhar [16] | Chan [2] | Chan [1] | Foruria [8] |
Imaging | – | Weekly lateral and AP radiographs for 6 weeks | Weekly lateral and AP radiographs for at least 4 weeks | Weekly lateral and AP radiographs for at least 3 weeks | Lateral and AP radiographs after 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year |
Mobilization | Active assisted elbow ROM | Early active flexion–extension and supination–pronation under close supervision of a physiotherapist | Supervised ROM exercises within a stable arc in the first 10 days after injury | Supervised ROM exercises within a stable arc in the first 10–14 days after injury | Flexion–extension with the forearm in full pronation and pronation–supination exercises at maximum elbow flexion |
Extension limited to 45° at the start, then increased by 10–15° per week | Active and active assisted elbow flexion/extension exercises with the forearm in neutral rotation | Active and active assisted elbow flexion/extension exercises with the forearm in neutral rotation within 2 weeks of injury | ROM exercises with assistance from the other hand to decrease varus stress | ||
– | – | Overhead exercises with supine positioning to allow early motion with the effect of gravity to maintain a concentric reduction | – | ||
Immobilization | Sling for comfort | – | Resting elbow splint at 90° of flexion was used for comfort in between exercises until fracture and soft tissue healing progressed, usually by approximately 6 weeks after injury | Resting elbow splint at 90° of flexion was used for comfort in between exercises until fracture and soft tissue healing progressed, usually by approximately 6 weeks after injury | Immobilized for 3 weeks with a long plaster splint (elbow at 90° of flexion and in neutral rotation), then sling from week 3–6 |
Others | Avoidance of shoulder abduction (varus stress) for 1 month | – | – | Avoidance of shoulder abduction (varus stress) | Avoidance of shoulder abduction (varus stress) |
Functional outcomes and complications
First author | Van Der Werf [24] | Najd Mazhar [16] | Chan [2] | Chan [1] | Foruria [8] | Total |
Included patients (n) | 3 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 28 | 62 |
Flexion | 138 | 131 | 134 | 137 | 139 | 136 |
Extension | 0 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
Pronation | 90 | 53 | 87 | 88 | 74 | 76 |
Supination | 83 | 58 | 82 | 86 | 83 | 79 |
Mean MEPS, points (range) | 80 (40–100) | 95 (80–100) | 94 (80–100) | 94 | 95 (70–100) | 94 |
MEPS detail | 2E, 1P | 7E, 3G | 7 E, 4G | 6E, 4G | 22 E, 4 G, 2 F | 44E, 15 G, 2 F, 1P |
DASH | 17.2 (0–49.1) | 4.76 (0–13.6) | 8 (0–23) | 7 | 7 (0–57) | 7.3 |
Operations: number (%) | 0 | 0 | 2 (18.2%) | 0 | 4 (14%) | 6 (9.7%) |
Operations: number and cause | 0 | 0 | 1 stiffness (arthroscopic arthrolysis), 1 recurrent instability | 0 | 3 stiffness (arthroscopic arthrolysis), 1 recurrent instability | 4 stiffness (arthroscopic arthrolysis), 2 recurrent instabilities |
Complications not requiring further operations: number and cause | 0 | 1 ulnar nerve paresthesia, 3 ulnohumeral arthritic changes BM grade 1 | 4 ulnohumeral arthritic changes BM grade 1 | 0 | 11 ulnohumeral arthritic changes BM grade 1 | 18 ulnohumeral arthritic changes BM grade 1, 1 ulnar nerve paresthesia |
Discussion
Limitations
Practical conclusion
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The results of this work demonstrate that most patients achieve satisfactory results after treatment of conservative coronoid fracture due to rotational moments.
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Concentric joint reduction, clinical and radiologic exclusion of even minor subluxations, systematic early functional follow-up, and close radiographic monitoring appear to be mandatory.
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A rate of conversion to surgery of approximately 10% can be expected.
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Approximately 30% of patients show mild osteoarthritis after an average follow-up of 3 years; the development of these alterations in the long-term follow-up remains pending.
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The evidence is still scarce, and conclusions drawn from this review should be viewed with caution, since prospective randomized controlled trials are not available to date.