Fractured Humerus, Posterior View

Description

Presented in posterior anatomical position, the humeral head aligns with the glenoid cavity of the scapula while the shaft descends inferiorly toward the distal humerus, where the lateral supracondylar region lies just superior to the lateral epicondyle. The fracture line interrupts the cortical contour along the posterolateral aspect of the distal third of the humerus, proximal to the epicondylar flare and adjacent to the origin area of the brachioradialis and extensor carpi radialis longus on the lateral supracondylar ridge. Posteriorly, the distal humerus broadens toward the olecranon fossa and the medial and lateral columns, with the triceps brachii tendon approaching the olecranon posterior to the joint. Clear bony landmarks. A posterior view at this level matters because distal-third humeral fractures place the radial nerve and profunda brachii artery at risk as they course in the spiral groove proximally and then travel anterior to the lateral epicondyle, a pattern that explains wrist and finger drop when neuropraxia accompanies a seemingly isolated shaft injury. Orthopaedic planning also hinges on appreciating how the triceps and lateral intermuscular septum relate to the distal humerus, since posterior and posterolateral approaches must protect the nerve while restoring length and rotation before plating. Teaching the difference between a true supracondylar injury, an epicondylar avulsion, and a distal shaft fracture becomes simpler when the epicondylar landmarks are kept in frame. Use this illustration in upper limb anatomy labs to anchor surface and palpation landmarks around the lateral epicondyle, and in trauma or orthopaedics teaching to pair fracture morphology with expected neurovascular findings on exam. It also suits clinical education materials on humeral fracture classification, operative approach selection, and documentation of posterior elbow and arm anatomy in men’s health resources. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.