title: The anconeus flap transolecranon approach to the distal humerus.
abstract: The transolecranon approach for the treatment of distal humerus fractures and nonunions is commonly used. A complication of the standard osteotomy is denervation of the anconeus muscle, which provides dynamic stability to the lateral side of the elbow by preventing varus and posterolateral rotatory instability. This article describes the anconeus flap transolecranon (AFT) approach, which utilizes an internervous plane to preserve the anconeus muscle and a chevron-shaped osteotomy for maximal joint exposure. The approach is straightforward to perform with limited complications.
authors.affiliation: Hand and Upper Limb Centre, St Joseph's Health Care, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada. gathwal@uwo.ca
authors.forename: George S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Athwal
authors.forename: Damian M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Rispoli
authors.forename: Scott P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Steinmann
mesh_terms: D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; D006801:Humans; D006810:Humeral Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D006811:Humerus / Q000601:surgery*; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000379:methods*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D013524:Surgical Flaps