The role of functional bracing in the treatment of humeral shaft fractures
Abstract
Methods: Humeral shaft fractures of 30 patients (19 males, 11 females; mean age 34 years; range 18 to 64 years) were treated with functional bracing. Fractures were on the right in 18 patients, on the left in 12 patients. All were closed fractures, being spiral in 10, comminuted in nine, transverse in six, and oblique in five patients. Humeral fractures were in the upper third, middle third, and distal third in 16, 8, and 6 patients, respectively. Functional brace was applied after a mean of six days (range (0 to 16 days) and was worn throughout day and night until radiographic signs of sufficient union and healing was observed. Functional assessment was made according to the Hunter criteria. The mean follow-up was 20 months (range 10 to 58 months).
Results: Union was achieved in 24 patients (80%) after a mean of 14 weeks (range 11 to 21 weeks). Six fractures (20%) failed to unite and were subsequently treated with surgery. According to the Hunter criteria, 24 patients (80%) were evaluated as good (G3-4), and six patients (20%) as excellent (G5). The mean varus-valgus rotation was 6°, the mean anterior-posterior translation was 8° in patients who had union with functional bracing. Four patients developed skin macerations secondary to brace use. Limb shortening of 1.7 cm occurred in one patient whose fracture was united with bracing.
Conclusion: Our clinical and radiographic results suggest that, based on proper indications, functional bracing applied after regression of edema may be the treatment of choice in humeral shaft fractures.
Keywords
Ayrıntılar
Birincil Dil
İngilizce
Konular
Sağlık Kurumları Yönetimi
Bölüm
Araştırma Makalesi
Yazarlar
Bulent Ozkurt
Bu kişi benim
Murat Altay
Bu kişi benim
Cem Aktekin
Bu kişi benim
Ali Toprak
Bu kişi benim
Yalcin Tabak
Bu kişi benim
Yayımlanma Tarihi
18 Nisan 2007
Gönderilme Tarihi
7 Mart 2014
Kabul Tarihi
-
Yayımlandığı Sayı
Yıl 2007 Cilt: 41 Sayı: 1