Research Article

Avoiding iatrogenic radial nerve injury during humeral fracture surgery: a modified approach to the distal humerus

Volume: 46 Number: 1 March 23, 2012
  • Ahmet Yildirim
  • Ozdamar Oken
  • Vuslat Unal
  • Ali Esmer
  • Murat Gulcek
  • Ahmet Ucaner
TR EN

Avoiding iatrogenic radial nerve injury during humeral fracture surgery: a modified approach to the distal humerus

Abstract

Objective: Our aim was to assess the results of posterior retraction technique to prevent iatrogenic radial nerve injury during humeral fracture surgery.
Methods: Seventy-two patients who underwent surgery for a distal humerus fracture between 1996 and 2002 were reviewed. These 72 patients comprised Group 1. Following a cadaveric study on the vascularization of the radial nerve, a modified surgical approach was undertaken starting in 2002. Sixty-one patients who underwent this new surgical approach were included in Group 2. The rates of radial nerve deficit of the groups were compared using the Pearson chi-square test.
Results: In Group 1, 19 iatrogenic nerve deficits occurred. After defining the blood circulation of the nerve, the lateral approach was modified. The anterolateral side of the nerve was released and the nerve was left attached to the triceps muscle. In Group 2, one patient developed postoperative transient nerve deficit.
Conclusion: The radial nerve is supplied by the branches of the deep brachial artery in close relation with the triceps muscle. Anterior dissection and posterior retraction of the radial nerve during lateral approach may preserve its blood supply and reduces the risk of iatrogenic injury.

Keywords

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Health Care Administration

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Ahmet Yildirim This is me

Ozdamar Oken This is me

Vuslat Unal This is me

Ali Esmer This is me

Murat Gulcek This is me

Ahmet Ucaner This is me

Publication Date

March 23, 2012

Submission Date

March 7, 2014

Acceptance Date

-

Published in Issue

Year 2012 Volume: 46 Number: 1

APA
Yildirim, A., Oken, O., Unal, V., Esmer, A., Gulcek, M., & Ucaner, A. (2012). Avoiding iatrogenic radial nerve injury during humeral fracture surgery: a modified approach to the distal humerus. Acta Orthopaedica et Traumatologica Turcica, 46(1), 8-12. https://izlik.org/JA93NN26WU
AMA
1.Yildirim A, Oken O, Unal V, Esmer A, Gulcek M, Ucaner A. Avoiding iatrogenic radial nerve injury during humeral fracture surgery: a modified approach to the distal humerus. Acta Orthopaedica et Traumatologica Turcica. 2012;46(1):8-12. https://izlik.org/JA93NN26WU
Chicago
Yildirim, Ahmet, Ozdamar Oken, Vuslat Unal, Ali Esmer, Murat Gulcek, and Ahmet Ucaner. 2012. “Avoiding Iatrogenic Radial Nerve Injury During Humeral Fracture Surgery: A Modified Approach to the Distal Humerus”. Acta Orthopaedica et Traumatologica Turcica 46 (1): 8-12. https://izlik.org/JA93NN26WU.
EndNote
Yildirim A, Oken O, Unal V, Esmer A, Gulcek M, Ucaner A (March 1, 2012) Avoiding iatrogenic radial nerve injury during humeral fracture surgery: a modified approach to the distal humerus. Acta Orthopaedica et Traumatologica Turcica 46 1 8–12.
IEEE
[1]A. Yildirim, O. Oken, V. Unal, A. Esmer, M. Gulcek, and A. Ucaner, “Avoiding iatrogenic radial nerve injury during humeral fracture surgery: a modified approach to the distal humerus”, Acta Orthopaedica et Traumatologica Turcica, vol. 46, no. 1, pp. 8–12, Mar. 2012, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA93NN26WU
ISNAD
Yildirim, Ahmet - Oken, Ozdamar - Unal, Vuslat - Esmer, Ali - Gulcek, Murat - Ucaner, Ahmet. “Avoiding Iatrogenic Radial Nerve Injury During Humeral Fracture Surgery: A Modified Approach to the Distal Humerus”. Acta Orthopaedica et Traumatologica Turcica 46/1 (March 1, 2012): 8-12. https://izlik.org/JA93NN26WU.
JAMA
1.Yildirim A, Oken O, Unal V, Esmer A, Gulcek M, Ucaner A. Avoiding iatrogenic radial nerve injury during humeral fracture surgery: a modified approach to the distal humerus. Acta Orthopaedica et Traumatologica Turcica. 2012;46:8–12.
MLA
Yildirim, Ahmet, et al. “Avoiding Iatrogenic Radial Nerve Injury During Humeral Fracture Surgery: A Modified Approach to the Distal Humerus”. Acta Orthopaedica et Traumatologica Turcica, vol. 46, no. 1, Mar. 2012, pp. 8-12, https://izlik.org/JA93NN26WU.
Vancouver
1.Ahmet Yildirim, Ozdamar Oken, Vuslat Unal, Ali Esmer, Murat Gulcek, Ahmet Ucaner. Avoiding iatrogenic radial nerve injury during humeral fracture surgery: a modified approach to the distal humerus. Acta Orthopaedica et Traumatologica Turcica [Internet]. 2012 Mar. 1;46(1):8-12. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA93NN26WU