The Novel Ulnar Nerve Coverage Method Which Has the Potential to Prevent the Postoperative Ulnar Neuropathy after Plate Fixation of Distal Humerus Fractures: Three Case Reports

Figure 2

UNC method in practice (circled area is the medial epicondyle of the humerus). (a) The ulnar nerve (white arrowhead) is kept attached to the triceps brachii muscle, and the muscle is divided longitudinally about 1 cm lateral to the ulnar nerve (white arrow). (b) Distally, the Osborne ligament (black arrow) is first dissected, and the ulnar nerve is identified. Next, the ulnar head of the flexor carpi ulnaris with the ulnar nerve is elevated under the periosteum. (c) After ulnar nerve dissection with the UNC method, the ulnar nerve is approximately semicircumferentially covered by the triceps brachii and flexor carpi ulnaris muscles. The distal dissection should extend to the point where the medial plate can be applied.

(a)

(b)

(c)