[Operative treatment of distal intra-articular humerus fractures; results of 412 follow-up cases (AO-collected statistics)].

Intraarticular fractures require a surgical therapy. The functional results are depending on the anatomical reconstruction of the joint surfaces and on early kinesitherapy. Remaining disabilities may be controlled in 2/3 of the cases to such an extent that no alterations are necessary in private or professional life. The overall result was very good in 23.8%, good in 36.0%, moderate in 22.3% and bad in 17.9%. These bad results are due to the rate of polytraumatized patients (18%) and the high rate of open comminuted fractures (27%).