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Abstract

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Fractures of the humeral shaft account 3% of all fractures. OBJECTIVE: purpose of the present study is to study in a consecutive series of humeral shaft fractures; union rate, time of union, rate of nonunion, evidence of malunion, shoulder and elbow joints function and symptoms after each method, to confirm previously published results, and to study the effect of postoperative fracture distraction in fracture union. METHODS: By using conservative and operative methods, we treated 54 patients who had a fracture of the humeral shaft. 48 patients were available for follow-up, which ranged from 5 to 40 weeks. RESULT: The average age of patients was 31.39 yrs (ranges from 5 to 65 Yrs), 26 males and 22 females. From these patients (42 were of close and 6 were of open fractures), the average time of union was 10.5 weeks for conservative method and 8.4 weeks for operative method. In non operative method approximately 41.66% of the patients (ten patients) had an excellent functional result and an essentially full range of motion of the shoulder and elbow. 33.33% (eight patients) had a good functional result but lacked 15 degrees of forward flexion of the shoulder, or less, or 5 to 15 degrees of extension of the elbow. 8.3% (two patients) had a fair functional result but lacked more than 20 degrees of motion in both shoulder and elbow joints (specially in elbow extension) with mild pain. 16.6% (four patients) had a poor initial resulted secondary to instability that was due to nonunion of the fracture. CONCLUSION: Because of the low morbidity and high rate of success in conservative method and because statistically there was no significant difference between the two methods (P value more than o.o5), we concluded that the treatment of choice for diaphyseal fractures of the humerus is better to be by non operative method unless there’s a clear indication for surgery.

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