Simple Decompression Versus Anterior Transposition of the Ulnar Nerve

Unity Health Toronto

Status

Completed

Conditions

Humeral Fractures

Ulnar Nerve Compression

Treatments

Procedure: anterior subcutaneous transposition

Procedure: Simple decompression

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT01051869

Ulnar Nerve 06-Jan-10

Details and patient eligibility

About

Both simple decompression and anterior transposition of the elbow nerve (ulnar nerve) for acute displaced fractures of the elbow (distal humerus) treated with plate fixation are currently used by surgeons. We want to examine which treatment will overall give better results in regards to arm function and residual pain.

Enrollment

56 patients

Sex

All

Ages

16 to 60 years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Men or women aged 16 to 60 years of age
Displaced, distal humerus fracture (OTA 13A or 13C) as seen in radiographs
Fractures ≤ 28 days post injury
Closed fractures
No history of previous ulnar neuropathy or elbow pathology
Provisin of informed consent

Exclusion criteria

Vascular injury
History of previous ulnar neuropathy or elbow pathology
Fractures more than 28 days post-injury
Limited life expectancy due to significant medical co-morbidity or medical contraindication to surgery
Inability to comply with rehabilitation or form completion
Likely problems, in the judgement of the investigators, with maintaining follow-up (i.e. patients with no fixed address, patients not mentally competent to give consent, etc.)