[Abstract] Objective to investigate the safety and efficacy of open relaxation combined with hinged external fixation in the treatment of elbow stiffness after c-type fractures of the distal humerus.Methods a retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 20 patients with elbow stiffness after c-type fractures of the distal humerus from January 2017 to December 2018 who underwent open relaxation surgery in our hospital. There were no statistically significant differences in patients'' age, gender, injury side, and admission time after injury (P>, 0.05).Postoperative functional recovery was evaluated by the flexion and extension of the elbow joint and the standard of Mayo elbow joint function evaluation.Results patients were followed up for 16 to 33 months, with an average of 24 months.All patients with postoperative incisionⅠhealing;At the last follow-up, the flexion and extension of the elbow increased from 33.50° before the operation to 124.50° after the operation, and the Mayo elbow function score increased from 63.25 ° before the operation to 93.25 ° after the operation, with statistically significant differences (P<0.05).At the last follow-up, according to the Mayo elbow function score, 13 cases were excellent, 6 cases were good, and 1 case was medium, with an excellent and good rate of 95.0%.Conclusion open relaxation combined with hinged external fixation is effective and safe in the treatment of elbow stiffness after c-type fractures of the distal humerus.