Medial Epicondyle Fracture of the Humerus

A distal humerus fracture in the adult population composes approximately one-third of all humerus fracture cases and two percent of all broken bone cases. Successful management of these types of bone fractures will depend on the correct reduction of the break in the bone, whether articular surface reconstruction is necessary, the rigidity and stability of the fixation, and rehabilitation. From an anatomical perspective, the distal humerus is described as having a triangular shape that is comprised of a tie arch and two columns. At the distal end, the medial column is responsible for holding the non-articular medial epicondyle with the medial portion of the humeral trochlea and the flexor-pronator mass muscles. A medial epicondyle fracture of the humerus may occur as a result of contraction of the flexor muscles and stress at the elbow.

When you have sustained a medial epicondyle fracture of the humerus because of an accident, you deserve fair compensation. Let our personal injury lawyers in Sacramento help you with your broken bone case. To get started, call now for free, friendly advice at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400.

The road to recovery may be long and extensive, and the process may be overwhelming to handle on your own. That is where an experienced attorney from our law firm comes in. Since 1982, our legal team has worked diligently to help injured parties and their families after life-changing accidents resulting in traumatic injuries such as fractures of the medial epicondyle of the distal humerus. We handle personal injury cases dealing with all types of accidents, and we can help you with yours too. To get started, reach out to us to schedule a free consultation with one of our lawyers today.

An isolated medial epicondyle fracture of the humerus may occur because of an avulsion force from an extension or valgus loading or a direct force applied to the bone. A patient presenting with this type of upper extremity injury may report tenderness or pain on the medial aspect of the joint, elbow held in flexion, soft tissue swelling, and report a history of activity or trauma that may have caused it.

A physical examination is crucial in these cases to determine whether the ulnar nerve, the nerve responsible for the adduction and abduction of fingers, has been impacted. The exam should also include an inspection of other fractures in the upper extremities, like the ulna and the radius, and a thorough vascular examination.

Radiography is recommended in the diagnosis of medial epicondyle fractures. The preferred radiographic positioning includes a lateral, oblique, and anterior-posterior view of the elbow. The oblique view plain radiograph is essential for the distinguishment of displacement in the distal humerus.

Findings on an X-ray on the anterior-posterior view of the plain radiograph that is suggestive of this type of bone fracture may include cortical contour disruption and a loss of parallelism on the smooth margins of the apophysis.

• Non-Operative Management: An isolated and non-displaced medial epicondylar fracture of the humerus may be treated through non-operative management. This approach may include immobilization in a long arm cast with elbow flexion to 90 degrees for the first week. After splint removal, rehabilitation should begin with various exercises to improve the range of motion. Non-operative treatment may also be recommended in stress fracture cases.
• Operative Management: Surgical intervention may be necessary in medial epicondyle fracture cases involving valgus instability, incarcerated intraarticular fragments, and compound fractures. Surgery may include open reduction and internal fixation with the use of tension band techniques, sutures, Kirschner wires (K-wires), and a screw and washer construct. A surgeon may have better access to the distal humerus through a posterior-medial surgical approach.

Some of the potential complications of a medial epicondyle fracture may include:

• Instability of the elbow
• Nonunion
• Septic arthritis
• Stiffness in the elbow
• Ulnar nerve dysfunction
• Visible deformity
• Wound infection

Immediate treatment, including surgical management, of a displaced medial epicondyle fracture, has been found in studies to lead to prospective results. Rehabilitation after surgery is essential to ongoing recovery. When there is union present in the fracture, strength training should be started to help in the facilitation of full recovery.

Your life may change in a split second when you get injured in an accident. You may have to deal with emotional, physical, and financial consequences through no fault of your own. In such situations, a bodily injury claim may be brought against the insurance company representing the party responsible for the incident. These cases are intended to make an injured party whole again by placing them in the position they were in before the collision occurred. This may include compensating the claimant for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other accident-related losses.

The process for determining a personal injury settlement is not always straightforward, as there is a wide array of factors that may determine an injured party’s award. This may include the type of accident they were involved in, the extent of injuries sustained, and the overall impact of the incident on their life and that of their loved ones. Some may choose not to retain legal counsel for their medial epicondylar fracture case, but this could be a costly mistake. An accident attorney ​can ​provide invaluable assistance throughout the process.

Some people may hesitate to reach out to a personal injury lawyer after an accident as they may wonder whether retaining legal counsel is necessary for their case. Hiring an attorney for a bone fracture case may not only improve the chances of obtaining the fair compensation that is rightfully owed but also provide peace of mind throughout the process, knowing the claim is in good hands. Here are some of the ways a lawyer can help after a crash resulting in injury:

• Independent Investigation of the Incident: Liability in a traffic collision may not always be clear, and even when it is, a collection of evidence must establish it. Proving negligence in a personal injury claim is necessary as it may have a significant influence on the outcome of the case. This may include images of the crash scene, traffic incident reports, witness statements, video surveillance footage, photographs of visible injuries, and more.
• Filing a Bodily Injury Claim: The process of filing a claim with the insurance company may be challenging as you may be unsure of how to bring one forward and against whom. A wide array of factors may be involved in the case, and various parties other than the negligent driver may be held liable for damages incurred, including the manufacturer of defective vehicle parts and equipment or a government entity for a road defect. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help bring a case against appropriate parties on your behalf.
• Proving Damages in a Personal Injury Case: When traumatic injuries such as medial epicondyle fractures of the humerus are involved in an accident case, it is common to assume that the claims adjuster will recognize the losses from the incident and fairly compensate the injured party for what they have gone through. The unfortunate reality is that insurance companies are focused on protecting their bottom line and will do so by using any defense tactic to devalue or deny claims. An accident attorney with years of experience handling bodily injury claims will know the best way to proceed with gathering medical records, working with expert witnesses, and establishing economic and non-economic damages.
• Negotiating a Fair Insurance Settlement: It is not uncommon for a claims adjuster to make settlement offers that are significantly less than what an injured party deserves. This is especially true in situations where the claimant has not yet retained legal counsel and may accept the settlement offer to pay unexpected expenses in the aftermath of the incident. Accepting any initial settlement offer from the insurer may result in the loss of the right to seek additional damages that may not be immediately apparent following the accident. Therefore, it is best to work with an injury lawyer who can negotiate for a fair settlement amount when the offer from the insurance company does not account for the full extent of resulting losses.
• Filing a Lawsuit: When a mutual settlement agreement cannot be reached with the insurer within the statute of limitations, an accident attorney will file a personal injury lawsuit in civil court to ensure that the statute is protected. A lawyer will be prepared to present the case in court if all attempts at a fair settlement fail with the insurance carrier.

Various factors may be involved in the personal injury claims process that may have an influence on the value of an accident case. To learn what these are, watch the following video.

At our law firm, we help people in Sacramento County and across California who have suffered injuries due to the negligence of others. If you sustained an injury in an accident, you can depend on us to handle all aspects of your broken bone case so you can focus on getting better and being with your loved ones.

To speak with one of our personal injury attorneys today regarding your medial epicondylar fracture of the humerus case, call (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 to receive free, friendly advice on how to move forward in your situation. You do not have to pay any upfront fees to receive our legal services as we handle personal injury cases under a contingency fee arrangement. This means that attorney’s fees will only be due if we obtain a successful outcome on your behalf.

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