The three bones that come together to form the elbow can break (fracture) in different ways. A distal humerus fracture is one type of elbow fracture. The distal humerus is the end of the upper arm bone (the humerus) that forms the upper part of the elbow.

These types of elbow fractures are fairly uncommon. They account for about 2% of fractures in adults.

The elbow is a complicated joint and elbow fractures can involve both of the forearm bones, as well as the humerus.

A fracture of the distal humerus occurs when there is a break anywhere within the distal region (lower end) of the humerus

Distal humerus fractures are fairly uncommon. They may occur in an isolated manner (that is, there are no other injuries), but can also be a part of a more complex elbow injury.

Distal humerus fractures may occur in a number of ways:

• A direct blow. This can happen during a fall (landing directly on the elbow) or by being struck by a hard object (baseball bat, car dashboard or door during a crash).
• An indirect fracture. This can happen during a fall if a person lands on his or her outstretched arm with the elbow locked straight. The ulna (one of the forearm bones) is driven into the distal humerus, causing it to break.

Distal humerus fractures can be very painful and may prevent the patient from moving his or her elbow. Additional symptoms include:

• Swelling
• Bruising
• Pain or tenderness to the touch
• Stiffness
• Feeling of instability (“my elbow feels like it wants to pop out”)
• Pieces of bone may stick out of the skin (rare)

While in the emergency room, the doctor will apply a splint (like a cast) to the elbow and provide a sling to keep the elbow in position. Additional immediate treatment will include applying ice to the elbow and giving the patient pain medicine.

Many distal humerus fractures require surgery, but some stable fractures can be treated without an operation.

Nonsurgical Treatment

If the fracture is not displaced, it may require just a splint or sling to hold the elbow in place during the healing process. The doctor will closely monitor the healing of the fracture, and have the patient return to the clinic for x-rays fairly frequently.

If none of the bone fragments are out of place after a few weeks, the doctor will allow the patient to begin gently moving the elbow. This may require visits with a physical therapist.

The patient will not be allowed to lift anything with the injured arm for a few weeks.

A nonsurgical approach to a distal humerus fracture may require long periods of splinting or casting. The elbow may become very stiff and require a longer period of therapy to regain motion after the cast is removed.

If the fracture shifts in position, the patient may require surgery to put the bones back together.

Surgical Treatment

Surgery for a distal humerus fracture typically involves putting the pieces of the fractured bone back where they belong. Metal implants — such as plates and screws — are used to hold things in place until the bone is fully healed.

Surgical Indications

Surgery is usually necessary when:

• The fracture is out of place (displaced)
• The fracture is open (pieces of bone have cut the skin).Because the risk of infection is higher in an open fracture, the patient will receive antibiotics by vein (intravenous) in the emergency room, and may require a tetanus shot. The patient will promptly be taken to surgery so that the cuts can be thoroughly cleaned out. The bone will typically be fixed or replaced during the same surgery.

In some cases of severe, open fractures, the doctor may choose to apply an external fixator (bars and pins in the bone outside the surface of the skin) to temporarily hold the bones in place. This gives the skin time to improve before surgery to fix the fracture, and may reduce the risk of infection.

Surgical Procedure

Surgery can be done under general anesthesia (going to sleep) or under regional anesthesia (using medicines like novocaine that numb the arm), or both.

During surgery, the patient may lie on his or her back, side, or stomach. If the patient lies on his or her belly, the face (lips, eyelids) may be swollen for a few hours after the operation is over. This is normal and temporary.
The broken bones have been put back together and are held in place with a combination of plates and screws.
The surgeon will typically make an incision over the back of the elbow to reach the fractured bone. There are several ways to hold the pieces of bone in place. The surgeon may choose to use:

• Pins/wires
• Screws only
• Plates and screws
• Sutures (“stitches”) in the bone or tendons
• A combination of the above methods

The incision is typically closed with sutures or staples. Sometimes, the surgeon will place a splint on the arm to help take stress off the incision.

Surgical Considerations

Different fractures may require specific considerations during the procedure.

• Ulnar nerve placement. In most cases, the surgeon will need to gently move the ulnar nerve (“funny bone”) to prevent it from being injured during surgery. At the end of the procedure, the ulnar nerve will be put back in place or moved to a slightly different position. This is decided by the surgeon during the procedure, and is usually done to prevent nerve symptoms from occuring in the future.
• Bone loss. If some of the bone is missing or crushed beyond repair (pieces of bone lost through a wound during an accident), the fracture may require bone filler. Bone filler can be bone supplied by the patient (typically taken from the pelvis) or bone from a bone bank (from a donor), or an artificial calcium-containing material.
• Osteotomy. Sometimes, the tip of the elbow (olecranon) will be cut so that the surgeon can see the bone fragments. The cut bone is moved out of the way during fracture repair. After the fracture is repaired, the cut olecranon is returned to its original location and repaired.
• Elbow replacement. If the distal humerus fracture is too severe to fix properly (as often occurs in elderly patients), the elbow may need to be replaced. This procedure is similar to a hip or knee replacement. A metal and plastic implant is attached to the humerus after the broken bits of bone are removed. Another metal and plastic implant is attached to the ulna (forearm bone), and the two implants are connected to form a hinge. These implants may be held in place with bone cement.

Rehabilitation

Whether treatment involves surgery or not, recovery from a distal humerus fracture requires much work.

Nonsurgical Treatment

Rehabilitation typically begins after a few weeks of keeping the arm still by using a splint or a sling. In many cases, a physical therapist will help with rehabilitation, beginning with gentle, range of motion exercises and gradually adding exercises to strengthen the arm.

Surgical Treatment

After surgery, the patient’s elbow may be splinted or casted for a short period of time. The patient may wear a sling if it provides comfort. Pain medications may be provided. Stitches or staples are typically removed 10 to 14 days after surgery, but this depends on the preferences of the surgeon.

Physical therapy. Motion exercises for the elbow and forearm usually begin shortly after surgery, sometimes as early as the next day. It is extremely important that exercises, once started, are performed multiple times a day every day.

Sometimes, visits to a physical therapist will be prescribed. If so, the patient should still do exercises at home on days he or she does not work with the therapist. The exercises only make a difference if they are done regularly.