Osteotomy through the bare area of olecranon minimises the damage to articular cartilage in the trans-olecranon approach to the distal humerus. In this study we have identified a reliable and easily reproducible anatomical land mark to make sure that the osteotomy passes through the bare area.

Two methods were used to determine the line for the osteotomy, in the first a line from the lateral epicondyle perpendicular to the olecranon and in the second an intra-articular marker was used to determine the osteotomy. In 5 cadavers the osteotomy with lateral epicondylar line as a marker went 2 mm proximal to the bare area. Of the 5 cadavers dissected with a marker passed to the angle of olecranon the osteotomy went through the bare area of olecranon in three specimens and just proximal in the other two.

In conclusion a cheveron osteotomy with the base of the chevron on the lateral epicondylar line will be the ideal site to make sure that the osteotomy passes through the bare area of the olecranon.

Fractures of the shaft of the humerus are often treated conservatively in a hanging cast or a humeral brace. The conservative management of this fracture is often prolonged and quite uncomfortable for the patient. Some of the patients will need an operative fixation after a trial of conservative management.

We retrospectively looked at 72 consecutive patients with fractures of the shaft of the humerus that presented in our institution over a period of two years. The fracture pattern, treatment modality time to union and the number that needed operative fixation following a trial of conservative treatment was analysed. Of the 72 patients 4 were lost to follow-up. 45 patients had a 1.2.B or 1.2.C type of fracture and 23 had a 1.2.A type of fracture. 29 (41%) were successfully treated conservatively, 11 (16%) patients were operated as the primary procedure and 15 (22%) patients were operated due to delayed or non union. 13 (19%) patients were operated within 4 weeks of the fracture as their alignment was not acceptable on their weekly follow-up.

The average time to union in the patients treated conservatively was 22 weeks, while that of the patients treated primarily by open reduction and plating was 14 weeks (p-value<0.05). Patients who needed operation after initial conservative management required prolonged period of rehabilitation and union time was 32.2 weeks. At the time of fracture union 72% of the patients who had been treated conservatively had joint stiffness requiring physiotherapy, while only 18% of those who had an open reduction and internal fixation had stiffness and required physiotherapy. (p-value < 0.05).

In conclusion careful consideration should be given before it is decided to treat this fracture conservatively especially in the case of 1.2.A fracture pattern.