[Minimally-invasive locking compression plate to treat complex humeral shaft fracture].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate an effect of the minimally-invasive locking compression plate (


OBJECTIVE
CP) under the anterior humeral approach to treat the complex humeral shaft fracture.


METHODS
Eleven patients (6 males, 5 females; age, 32-66 years) with a humeral shaft fracture were treated with the minimally-invasive LCP under the modified anterior humeral approach from March 2005 to February 2006. Five of the patients were injured in a traffic accident and the remaining 6 were wounded in a fall. All the patients had an unstable fracture. The multiple segment fracture was found in 2 patients, the obligue line fracture in 1 patient, and the long segment comminuted fracture in 8 patients, of whom the radial nerve injury was found in 1 patient, who had an emergency treatment by the loosening of the radial nerve and the internally fixing with LCP. As for the fracture site, the middle- and/or the upper-part fracture of the humerus was found in 6 patients, and the middle and/or lower-part fracture of the humerus was found in 5 patients. The patients underwent the operation in the period from 48 hours to 4 days after the injuries.


RESULTS
All the patients had a complete healing of their fractures 2-4 months after operation. One patient underwent the loosening of the radial nerve and the internally-fixing with LCP, and his function recovered 3 days after operation. The follow-up for 6-12 months revealed that all the patients' function recovered. According to the Neer Scoring System for the shoulder function evaluation, 7 patients had an excellent result, 3 had a good result, and 1 had a fair result. According to the HSS Scoring System, 9 patients had an excellent result and 2 had a good result.


CONCLUSIONS
The minimally-invasive locking compression plate under the anterior humeral approach to treat the complex humeral shaft fracture is an effective and safe method of treating the complex humeral shaft fracture.
Yang
Tieyi
T
Department of Orthopedics, Gongli Hospital, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, China. yang.tieyi@yahoo.com.cn
Liu
Shuyi
S
Liu
Yue
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001860:Bone Plates; D001863:Bone Screws; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology; D018460:Fractures, Comminuted / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D006810:Humeral Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D011859:Radiography; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome