Does surgical approach affect outcome after fixation of intra-articular fractures of distal humerus? Retrospective cohort study from a level-1 trauma centre in a metropolitan city.

•Complex intra-articular distal humerus fractures present as challenge to restore of painless, stable and mobile elbow joint.•Surgical exposure to all critical structures is of paramount importance to achieve anatomic reduction.•For long time, olecranon osteotomy approach was utilized to provide clear access to the joint.•This is at the cost of creating osteotomy and the risk of its delayed/nonunion.•Triceps lifting approach avoids this catastrophic complication.