Anterior humeral line

Last revised by Mostafa El-Feky ◉ on 30 Nov 2022

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Jones J, El-Feky M, Lustosa L, et al. Anterior humeral line. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 05 Oct 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-22506

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-22506

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/22506

rID:

22506

Article created:

4 Apr 2013, Jeremy Jones ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Jeremy Jones had no recorded disclosures.

View Jeremy Jones's current disclosures

Last revised:

30 Nov 2022, Mostafa El-Feky ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Mostafa El-Feky had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.

View Mostafa El-Feky's current disclosures

Revisions:

15 times, by 7 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Musculoskeletal, Paediatrics, Trauma

Sections:

Anatomy, Signs

Tags:

elbow, refs, upper limb, alignment

The anterior humeral line is key to demonstrating normal elbow alignment and should be used whenever reading a pediatric elbow radiograph to exclude a subtle supracondylar fracture.

When an axial force is applied down the radius (such as after a fall onto an outstretched hand), the radial head impacts the capitellum. This results in the narrowest and weakest part of the distal humerus is placed under stress. The result is often a fracture through the supracondylar portion of the distal humerus and this usually results in posterior displacement of the capitellum.

Where there is even minor displacement of the capitellum, look for evidence of an elbow effusion, or minor cortical irregularity on the AP and lateral film.

Unfortunately, as with all rules, there are exceptions. In most children, this rule holds for normal children. However, there are normal children (usually those under the age of 4) in whom the anterior humeral line passes through the anterior third. In these cases, look for ancillary signs to suggest elbow trauma.