title: Delayed treatment of persistent radial nerve paralysis associated with fractures of the middle third of humerus: review and evaluation of the long-term results of 52 cases.
abstract: This study was undertaken to determine the efficacy of delayed surgical treatment in cases of persistent radial nerve paralysis after fractures of the middle third of the humerus. We have limited this study to patients who had absolutely no functional recovery of the radial nerve 3 to 4 months after middle third humeral fractures. The fractures were treated by a variety of orthopaedic methods, conservative and surgical, in other departments and hospitals. Surgical exploration of the radial nerve was carried out 3 to 4 months after primary orthopaedic treatment. The outcome of this study concurs with data in the literature in showing that delayed nerve surgery (neurolysis or nerve grafts) in the absence of functional recovery of the radial nerve after humeral fracture can be useful in achieving good functional recovery and subjectively satisfying results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, University of Turin, Italy. maurizioverga@yahoo.it
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Verga
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Peri Di Caprio
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bocchiotti
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Battistella
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bruschi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Petrolati
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001915:Braces; D002370:Casts, Surgical; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary; D006225:Hand / Q000294:innervation; D006801:Humans; D006810:Humeral Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000637:transplantation; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011826:Radial Nerve / Q000601:surgery; D020425:Radial Neuropathy / Q000601:surgery*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D012086:Reoperation; D013165:Splints; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014953:Wrist / Q000294:innervation