title: [Functional fracture treatment of the upper arm].
abstract: Using a functional brace, we treated 67 patients who had a fracture of the humeral shaft over a 5-year period from 1987 to 1992. We analysed several parameters of the fractures to discover those which influence healing. Desault, plaster cast or traction were used before applying a brace in an average time of 15 days. The osseous consolidation was 10 weeks in the average. The functional results were very good and good in 78.3%, acceptable in 18.3% and poor in 3.4% of the cases. Twelve humeral-shaft fractures were associated with a radial nerve palsy. Every patient recovered a full radial nerve function under the treatment with a functional brace. The retentive management of an operative treatment of humeral-shaft fractures associated with a nerve injury can be supported because of our experience.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Chirurgie/Unfallchirurgie, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goldhahn
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bach
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Friedel
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Markgraf
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001915:Braces; D002370:Casts, Surgical; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006810:Humeral Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D014143:Traction; D016896:Treatment Outcome