Distal Humeral Shear Fracture - A Modified Technique for Exposure

Coronal shear fractures of the distal humerus are rare, complex fractures that can be technically challenging even in the best of hands. Their peak incidence is seen in elderly females and is usually the result of low energy fall. The injury is usually part of complex elbow injury and in rare instances can be isolated entity. Complex injury pattern is characterized by shear fracture combined with fracture of radial head and collateral ligament injury. The preferred treatment for this complex fracture is Open reduction and internal fixation. The usual recommendation is a two-incision approach.

We report a rare case in which fracture could not be classified using the traditional classification systems and in which entire fracture was managed via a single approach.