A fracture involving the medial epicondyle will most likely damage which nerve?

• A. Axillary
• B. Ulnar
• C. Median
• D. Radial

Answer: (B)

When a fracture hits the medial aspect of the elbow, the structure most at risk is the ulnar nerve because it runs right behind the medial epicondyle in the cubital tunnel. A break here can directly injure or compress the nerve as it courses close to the bone.

Injury to the ulnar nerve at the elbow typically produces weakness of intrinsic hand muscles (affecting finger spreading and fine movements) and sensory loss on the medial one-and-a-half fingers of the hand and corresponding forearm. That’s why damage to this nerve fits a fracture of the medial epicondyle.

The other nerves aren’t as closely related to the medial epicondyle: the axillary nerve is near the shoulder, the radial nerve travels laterally around the elbow, and the median nerve lies more centrally in the elbow region. Therefore, they’re less likely to be affected by a fracture at the medial epicondyle.