Intercondylar T or Y fractures

Background

• Intra-articular fracture
• Seen in middle aged patients
• Fracture line splits the trochlea vertically and then forks medially and laterally. The result is the formation of three fragments: the humeral shaft, medial condyle and lateral condyle. “T” and “Y” are simply denoting the direction of the fracture lines.

Classification

Riseborough and Radin

• Type 1 - Non-displaced fracture between the capitellum and the trochlea
• Type 2  - Separation of capitellum and trochlea without rotation of fragments in frontal plane
• Type 3 - Separation of fragments with rotation
• Type 4 - Severe comminution with wide separation of condyles

Mechanism of Injury

• Fall onto the outstretched hand resulting into wedging and splitting of the distal end of the humerus by the olecranon.
• Can occur with the elbow either in extension or flexion
• Road Traffic accidents