What is a Fracture of the Distal Humerus?
The humerus is the long bone in the upper arm, a relatively thick bone with a large, smooth head at the proximal end (where it meets the shoulder) and a number of projections (or processes) at the distal end, the area of the elbow. A fracture of the distal humerus is a fracture in the lower portion of the arm near the elbow. At the distal end of the humerus are two projections known as condyles, the medial epicondyle and the lateral epicondyle. These bumps in the bone are attachment sites for muscles that move the forearm. Fractures to the distal humerus usually involve both condyles and often extend into the elbow joint. There may be damage to the humerus, the elbow joint, and to soft tissue around the fracture site, including nerves, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels. Several classification schemes exist for distinguishing among fractures. The most useful way to understand them is to consider them as either nondisplaced or displaced. Nondisplaced fractures are less severe, and th
