What type of fracture is most commonly associated with radial nerve injuries?

The most commonly associated fracture with radial nerve injuries is a spiral fracture of the humerus. This is due to the anatomical course of the radial nerve, which runs closely along the mid-shaft of the humerus. When a spiral fracture occurs, particularly in this region, it can lead to direct trauma or stretch injuries to the radial nerve, resulting in wrist drop and loss of function in wrist and finger extension.

In contrast, other types of fractures mentioned do not have the same strong association with radial nerve injuries. For example, supracondylar fractures primarily affect the elbow region and can cause injury to the brachial artery or median nerve rather than the radial nerve. Intertrochanteric fractures of the femur are related to the hip and do not involve structures near the radial nerve. Distal radius fractures typically occur at the wrist and are more associated with ulnar nerve injuries or local complications rather than affecting the radial nerve. Thus, the spiral fracture of the humerus is the most relevant context for understanding the connection to radial nerve injuries.