Arthroscopic-Assisted Fixation of Capitellar Fracture

Distal humeral fractures, including coronal shear fractures of the capitellum and trochlea, are uncommon injuries with various management options. These range from closed reduction and immobilization to open reduction with internal fixation (ORIF) and elbow arthroplasty for irreparable fractures [1–5]. Arthroscopic reduction and percutaneous screw fixation have emerged as effective options for simple fractures, offering advantages such as minimal soft tissue trauma and superior visualization [6–8]. Dubberley et al. classified capitellum and trochlea fractures into three main types: type 1 involves the capitellum with or without the lateral trochlear ridge, type 2 features a single fragment comprising the capitellum and trochlea, and type 3 involves separate fragments of the capitellum and trochlea. These types are further categorized based on the presence (subtype B) or absence (subtype A) of posterior condylar comminution, with subtype B posing limitations to arthroscopic fixation [2]. Dubberley et al. and Ring stress the importance of the integrity of the posterior condyle of the distal humerus when considering arthroscopic fixation [2, 4].