title: [Medial transposition of the radial nerve in humeral shaft fractures fixation].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To summarize clinical outcomes of using medial transposition of the radial nerve in humeral shaft fracture fixation.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2005 to December 2009, 16 patients with humeral shaft fractures were treated with medial transposition of the radial nerve during open reduction and anterolateral plate fixation, included 12 males and 4 females ranging in age from 26 to 49 years, with a mean of 36 years. There were 7 fractures in the right and 9 in the left. According to AO classification, 6 fractures were type A3.2, 5 fractures were type A2.2, 2 fractures were type A1.2 and 3 fractures were type B2.2. The results were evaluated with DASH (disability of arm-shoulder-hand) Questionnaire by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS), where 0 indicates normal upper extremity function, and 1 to 100 indicate varying degrees of damage to the function of the upper extremities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no neurologic complication or postoperative would infection in this series. The followed-up period ranged from 20 to 46 (means 29) months postoperatively. The clinical outcomes were evaluated with DASH Questionnaire, indicating that all patients reached a normal value (value of 0). The function of the upper extremities recovered satisfactorily. There was no surgery-related complication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Medial transposition of the radial nerve is safe and does not cause iatrogenic nerve injury. It protects the radial nerve during open reduction and anterolateral plate fixation of humeral shaft fractures.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Orthopaedics, Lanzhou General Hospital of Lanzhou Military Area, Lanzhou 730050, Gansu, China. 668zgl@163.com
authors.forename: Gong-Lin
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lai-Xu
authors.initials: LX
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Jun-Lin
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jan-Hua
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D006810:Humeral Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011826:Radial Nerve / Q000601:surgery*