Intraosseous blood supply to the distal humerus.
OBJECTIVE
Nonunion of the distal humerus after fracture or osteotomy is uncommon but can present an important clinical problem. Vascular insufficiency of bone may be an important contributing factor. The purpose of this study was to describe the intraosseous vascular anatomy of the distal humerus.


METHODS
Nine fresh-frozen upper extremity cadaver specimens were injected with India ink and Ward's blue latex solution. A modified Spalteholz technique was used to show the intraosseous vascular anatomy.


RESULTS
The distal humeral diaphysis was supplied by a single nutrient artery. The lateral column was supplied predominately by posterior segmental vessels, whereas the medial column was supplied by anterior and posterior segmental vessels. The trochlea, olecranon fossa, and coronoid fossa were watershed areas.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study shows the intraosseous vascular anatomy of the distal humerus is relatively consistent. There also appears to be a consistent trochlear vessel medially and small anterior perforating vessels in the lateral column that have not previously been described.
Kimball
Jon P
JP
Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32607, USA.
Glowczewskie
Frank
F
Wright
Thomas W
TW
D002102:Cadaver; D003097:Collateral Circulation; D018483:Diaphyses / Q000098:blood supply; D006801:Humans; D006811:Humerus / Q000098:blood supply*