PurposeExposure of the articular surface is the key to the successful treatment of intra-articular fractures of distal humerus. Anterior, posterior olecranon osteotomy as well as medial and lateral approaches are the four main approaches to the elbow. The aim of this study was to compare the exposure of distal articular surfaces of these surgical approaches.MethodsTwelve cadavers were used in this study. Each approach was performed on six elbows according to previously published procedures. After completion of each approach, the exposed articular surfaces were marked by inserting 0.5 mm K-wires along the margins. The elbow was then disarticulated and the exposed articular surfaces were painted. The distal humeral articular surfaces were then closely wrapped using a piece of fibre-glass screen net with meshes. The exposed articular surfaces and the total articular surfaces were calculated by counting the number of meshes, respectively.ResultsThe average percentages of the exposed articular surfaces for the anterior, posterior olecranon osteotomy, medial and lateral approaches were 45.7% ± 2.0%, 53.9% ± 7.1%, 20.6% ± 4.9% and 28.5% ± 6.3%, respectively.ConclusionThe anterior and posterior approaches provide greater exposures of distal humeral articular surface than the medial and lateral ones in the treatment of distal humeral fractures.

To elucidate the impact of radical hysterectomy upon the urodynamic findings of patients with cervical cancer, 20 patients with cervical cancer at stage IB to IIA who underwent radical hysterectomy were recruited. Each patient underwent a 20-min pad test and urodynamic study prior to and 3 months after radical hysterectomy. ANOVA, Bonferroni test and paired t -test were utilized for analysis. The mean age of the 20 patients was 50.2+/-8.7 years with a mean parity of 3.5+/-1.5. Four (20%) of the 20 cases revealed normal urodynamic findings preoperatively, and the urodynamic findings became abnormal after surgery. Comparing the urodynamic parameters of both bladder voiding and storage functions pre- and post-surgery, we found significant impairments postoperatively in all 20 cases. Our data demonstrate that abnormal urodynamic findings may pre-exist for some patients with cervical cancer prior to surgical treatment. These findings may worsen, and/or additional abnormal states may arise subsequent to radical hysterectomy.