Humeral fracture with butterfly fragment

Case contributed by Craig Hacking
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

MBA

Patient Data

Age: 30-35 years
Gender: Male

There is a comminuted oblique fracture of the left distal humeral shaft with approximately 13 mm lateral and 11 mm anterior displacement of the distal fracture fragment. There is also approximately 25 degrees medial and 30 degrees volar angulation. A butterfly fragment is displaced medially and dorsally in relation to the humeral shaft.

The fracture line extends to the supracondylar humerus medially without involvement of the medial epicondyle or the distal articular surface. Normal elbow joint alignments are maintained and there is no intra-articular fracture.

Case Discussion

Good example of a large butterfly fragment.

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