• Wei Zhao, Wei Qu, Chongyang Fu, Huajun Jiang, Sida Liu, and Chao Cheng.
• Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, 222 Zhongshan Street, Dalian, Liaoning, 116011, China.
• Int Orthop. 2017 Sep 1; 41 (9): 1757-1762.

IntroductionTraditional open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of extra-articular distal humerus fractures has a risk of iatrogenic radial nerve injury, extensive soft tissue stripping, and long incision scar. We performed an antero-lateral minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) technique with the radial nerve exploration for distal-third diaphyseal fractures of the humerus and evaluated clinical and radiographic outcomes through this respective study.MethodsFrom April 2010 to June 2016, 28 cases of extra-articular distal-third diaphyseal fractures were treated with an antero-lateral MIPO procedure. Patient demographics, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) Score, Mayo Elbow Performance (MEP) Score, elbow range of motion, scars and post-operative complications were recorded and analyzed.ResultsAll fractures were united with a mean time of 3.5 months. One patient exhibited delayed union (3.6%). The mean DASH Score was 6.6, and all patients had excellent or good MEP Score values. The average scar length was 6.8 cm, and the shortest was 4.5 cm.ConclusionsThe MIPO technique via an antero-lateral approach for extra-articular distal-third diaphyseal fractures of the humerus results in satisfactory clinical outcomes.Level Of EvidenceLevel IV, case series, treatment study.

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