title: Comparative results of bracing and interlocking nailing in the treatment of humeral shaft fractures.
abstract: A comparison was made between 44 humeral fractures treated conservatively with functional bracing (Group 1) and 45 treated by operation with a locking nail (Group 2). Thirty-eight of the 44 patients in Group 1 (86%) and 22 of the 45 patients in Group 2 (47%) regained full movement of the shoulder joint. The functional end results were somewhat better in Group 1 although over 90% of patients in both groups were able to clasp their fingers behind their necks and to reach up their backs without restriction. Two patients developed a pseudarthrosis in Group 1, and 2 patients in Group 2 required operative revision due to a haematoma in 1 case and as a result of an infection in the other. There were 6 cases of primary radial nerve damage in both groups, and 6 had to be decompressed operatively. Residual sensory and motor disturbance remained in 2 patients in Group 1. Both methods are useful for the treatment of humeral shaft fractures. We advocate functional bracing as the method of choice if no contraindications exist.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, University of Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wallny
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sagebiel
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Westerman
authors.forename: U A
authors.initials: UA
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reimer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001858:Bone Nails; D001915:Braces; D002648:Child; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D017102:Fracture Healing; D006801:Humans; D006810:Humeral Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular