Posteromedial approach to the distal humerus for fracture fixation.

The authors report their experience with the posteromedial surgical approach of the humeral shaft for internal fixation of fractures by plating. Sixteen patients were treated for humeral shaft fractures (14 for recent fractures and two for nonunion) below the mid-diaphysis, all without injury of the radial nerve. Patients were operated in the prone position. Plate and screw fixation on the medial side was used in all cases. Fourteen fractures healed without delay, and two after revision with bone grafting. There were no surgical complications. The posteromedial approach allows the surgeon to avoid dissection of the radial nerve, and is an interesting alternative to lateral approaches especially in cases of re-operation or nonunion. Preoperative lesion of the radial nerve is however a relative contraindication to selecting this posteromedial approach, as it does not give access to the radial nerve.