J Korean Fract Soc.  1997 Oct;10(4):785-792.

A Comparison of Plate Fixation with Intramedullary Nailing in Humeral Shaft Fracture

• Lee KW
• Kim KH
• Kim HY
• Min YS
• Kim HJ
• Choy WS

Abstract

We evaluated prospectively ninety-two patients out of 130 humeral shaft fractures requiring surgical stabilization from January 1991 to December 1995. Among them, thirty-one patients received open reduction and internal fixation with plate & screws(PLT). Thirty-one patients received closed reduction & antegrade intramedullary nail fixation(IMN). Thirty patients received closed reduction & antegrade and retrograde endernail fixation(EN). Average follow-up period was 20.7 months. Eleven patients had primary radial nerve palsies. The higher incidence of nonunion was found on IMN(42%), and EN(20%), than PLT(8%). We concluded that the result of IMN was not superior to that of PLT or EN.

Keyword

Humerus shaft fracture; Intramedullary nail and Plate fixation

MeSH Terms

Follow-Up Studies
Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary*
Humans
Incidence
Paralysis
Prospective Studies
Radial Nerve