Introduction: Surgeon’s primary goal in distal humerus fracture is to obtain fixation with sufficient stability so that the elbow can be mobilized as early as possible. The present study aimed at assessing the functional outcomes in distal humeus fracture patients managed with open reduction internal fixation with triceps sparing approach. Methodology: The present study included adults presenting with distal humeral fractures and managed with open reduction and internal fixation with triceps sparing approach at the Department of Orthopedics, AJ Institute of Medical Sciences, Mangalore from August 2015 to April 2017. The Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS) was used as an objective measure of overall outcome. Grades of MEPS were compared between different age groups and different fracture types. Results: There was only one case of extra-articular type fracture. In the fractured elbow, the mean range of motion increased significantly from 63.4±14.2 at 6th week to 120±6 at 24th week. In our study population, the mean MEPS was 81.7±10.7. The MEPS was found to be excellent in 40% of the patients, fair in 20%, good in 36.7% and poor in only one patients. The MEPS was found to be similar among different age groups (p value = 0.92). Similarly, MEPS did not vary with the fracture type (p value = 0.21). Conclusions: Excellent grade of MEPS was observed in majority of the patients and only one case yielded poor grade. Age and fracture type were not found to be associated with the grade of MEPS.

Keywords: humerus; open reduction and internal fixation; triceps-sparing