Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 27, 2026

Vascularized Composite Upper Limb Allograft Harvesting for Proximal Arm Allotransplantation
Published on: June 13, 2025
Articular fractures of the distal part of the humerus
David Ring1, Jesse B Jupiter, Lawrence Gulotta
1Hand Surgery Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston 02114, USA. dring@partners.org
Background:
The purpose of this retrospective study was to identify the patterns of distal humeral articular fractures and to analyze the results of open reduction and internal fixation of these injuries.
Methods:
The cases of twenty-one patients with an articular fracture of the distal part of the humerus were reviewed at an average of forty months after the injury. Five components of the injury were identified: (1) the capitellum and the lateral aspect of the trochlea, (2) the lateral epicondyle, (3) the posterior aspect of the lateral column, (4) the posterior aspect of the trochlea, and (5) the medial epicondyle. All fractures were reduced and were stabilized with implants buried beneath the articular surface.
Results:
All fractures healed, and no patient had residual ulnohumeral instability or weakness. Ten patients required a second operation: six, for release of an elbow contracture; two, for treatment of ulnar neuropathy; one, for removal of hardware causing symptoms; and one, because of early loss of fixation. The average arc of ulnohumeral motion was 96 degrees (range, 55 degrees to 140 degrees ). The results according to the Mayo Elbow Performance Index were excellent in four patients, good in twelve, and fair in five.
Conclusions:
Apparent fractures of the capitellum are often more complex fractures of the articular surface of the distal part of the humerus. Treatment of these injuries with operative reduction and fixation with buried implants can result in satisfactory restoration of elbow function.
Related Concept Videos
Bones of the Upper Limb: Humerus
Bones of the Upper Limb: Ulna
Bones of the Upper Limb: Radius
The radius has a nail-shaped head, and a short...
Arteries of the Upper Limbs
Muscles that Move the Forearm
Forearm Flexors
The biceps brachii, brachialis, and brachioradialis are forearm flexors. The biceps brachii is made up of two heads. Its long head originates at the supraglenoid tubercle of the scapula, whereas that of the short head is...
Muscles that Move the Arm
The pectoralis major has two origins. Its clavicular head originates on the medial half of the clavicle. In contrast, the sternocostal head originates on the costal cartilages of ribs 1-6, the sternum, and the aponeurosis of the external oblique of the...