POSTERIOR APPROACHES TO THE HUMERUS - WHEN SHOULD YOU WORRY ABOUT THERADIAL NERVE

We used the olecranon osteotomy approach to the humerus on 75 cadaver arms and measured where the radial nerve pierced the intermuscular sep tum to determine the risk to that nerve luring elevation of the tricep s. We found the nerve an average of 10.0 cm from the distal articular surface in men and 9.4 cm in women however, some cadavers had nerves a s close as 7.5 cm. The humerus was also approached via a triceps split and the nerve located at the spiral groove. The distance From the art icular surface to the nerve averaged 15.8 cm in men and 15.2 cm in wom en, with the minimum distance being 13 cm in one woman. When dissectio n beyond 7.5 cm laterally or 13.0 cm posteriorly is required, care sho uld be taken to isolate and protect the radial nerve.