Plating of humeral shaft fractures--has the pendulum swung back?
We reviewed 49 patients following plate osteosynthesis of humeral shaft fractures. There were no complications as a result of surgery. Union occurred in 47 patients (96%) at a mean of 9 weeks. Two patients required secondary procedures to achieve union. All patients had full range of motion in the elbow and shoulder joints following union. In the light of the popularisation of intramedullary nailing techniques in the last decade, with recognised complications of iatrogenic radial nerve injury, inadequate rotational stabilisation, non-union and shoulder impingement, we advocate plating of humeral shaft fractures as the surgical treatment of choice.
Niall
D M
DM
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Meath and Adelaide Hospital (incorporating the National Children's Hospital), Tallaght, Dublin 24, Ireland. dniall@eircom.net
O'Mahony
J
J
McElwain
J P
JP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001860:Bone Plates; D005260:Female; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D006810:Humeral Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular