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Transverse Coronoid Fracture: When Does It Have to Be Fixed?

  • Symposium: Traumatic Elbow Instability and its Sequelae
  • Published:
Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research®

Abstract

Background

After elbow fracture-dislocation, surgeons confront numerous treatment options in pursuing a stable joint for early motion. The relative contributions of the radial head and coronoid, in combination, to elbow stability have not been defined fully.

Questions/purposes

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of an approximately 50% transverse coronoid fracture and fixation in the setting of an intact or resected radial head on coronal (varus/valgus) and axial (internal and external rotational) laxity in (1) gravity varus stress; and (2) gravity valgus stress models.

Methods

Kinematic data were collected on six fresh-frozen cadaveric upper extremities tested with passive motion throughout the flexion arc under varus and valgus gravity stress with lateral collateral ligaments reconstructed. Testing included coronoid fracture and osteosynthesis with and without a radial head.

Results

In the varus gravity stress model, fixation of the coronoid improved varus stability (fixed: 1.6° [95% confidence interval, 1.0–2.2], fractured: 5.6° [4.2–7.0], p < 0.001) and internal rotational stability (fixed: 1.8° [0.9–2.7], fractured: 5.4° [4.0–6.8], p < 0.001), but radial head fixation did not contribute to varus stability (intact head: 2.7° [1.3–4.1], resected head: 3.8° [2.3–5.3], p = 0.4) or rotational stability (intact: 2.7° [0.9–4.5], resected head: 3.9° [1.5–6.3], p = 0.4). With valgus stress, coronoid fixation improved valgus stability (fixed: 2.1° [1.0–3.1], fractured: 3.8° [1.8–5.8], p < 0.04) and external rotation stability (fixed: 0.8° [0.1–1.5], fractured: 2.1° [0.9–3.4], p < 0.04), but the radial head played a more important role in providing valgus stability (intact: 1.4° [0.8–2.0], resected head: 7.1° [3.5–10.7], p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Fixation of a 50% transverse coronoid fracture improves varus and internal rotatory laxity but is unlikely to meaningfully improve valgus or external rotation laxity. The radial head, on the other hand, is a stabilizer to resist valgus stress regardless of the status of the coronoid.

Clinical Relevance

Determination as to whether it is necessary to fix a coronoid fracture should be based on the stability of the elbow when tested with a varus load. The elbow may potentially be stable with fractures involving less than 50% of the coronoid. Under all circumstances, the radial head should be fixed or replaced to ensure valgus external rotatory stability.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. San Antonio Orthopaedic Group, 150 E. Sonterra Blvd Suite 300, San Antonio, TX, 78258, USA

    Robert U. Hartzler MD

  2. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic Rochester, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA

    Scott P. Steinmann MD, Bernard F. Morrey MD & Joaquin Sanchez-Sotelo MD, PhD

  3. Hospital de Traumatologia Vall de Hebron, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    Manuel Llusa-Perez MD

Authors
  1. Robert U. Hartzler MD
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  2. Manuel Llusa-Perez MD
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  3. Scott P. Steinmann MD
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  4. Bernard F. Morrey MD
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  5. Joaquin Sanchez-Sotelo MD, PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Joaquin Sanchez-Sotelo MD, PhD.

Additional information

Each author certifies that he or she, or a member of his or her immediate family, has no funding or commercial associations (eg, consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest, patent/licensing arrangements, etc) that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article.

All ICMJE Conflict of Interest Forms for authors and Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research editors and board members are on file with the publication and can be viewed on request.

Each author certifies that his or her institution approved the human protocol for this investigation, that all investigations were conducted in conformity with ethical principles of research, and that informed consent for participation in the study was obtained.

This work was performed at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.

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Hartzler, R.U., Llusa-Perez, M., Steinmann, S.P. et al. Transverse Coronoid Fracture: When Does It Have to Be Fixed?. Clin Orthop Relat Res 472, 2068–2074 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-014-3477-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-014-3477-1

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