Background:The objective of this retrospective study was to investigate if introduction of the triceps splitting approach rather than olecranon osteotomy for reduction of intra-articular distal humeral fractures had had an adverse effect on extension strength, clinical scores, union rate, and ulnar nerve affection.Methods: Eighty-two patients with distal humeral fracture AO/OTA type C were operated with parallel plates between 2003 and 2017. Fifty-one patients, mean age 58 years (18-89), attended follow-up after a mean 41 months (12-115). The approach was a triceps split in 35 and an olecranon osteotomy in 16. The ulnar nerve was in all cases decompressed in situ.Results: Patients operated with a triceps split had 88% extension strength in the operated compared to the non-operated elbow whereas in the osteotomy group extension strength was 78% (p=0,014). No other differences were found. Among the 82 patients the non-union rate of the humerus was 2% and the olecranon osteotomies 6%. Of the 51 clinically examined 22% had ulnar nerve affection.Discussion: This demonstrates that type C fractures of the distal humerus can be operated via a triceps split without significant loss of triceps strength, deteriorated function or healing disturbance. Ulnar nerve symptoms and reoperations were common.