Functional outcome of operative management of humeral shaft fractures

Abstract

Fractures of the humeral shaft are common, accounting for approximately 3% of all orthopaedic injuries according to a study by World Health Organization1, and result in a significant burden to society from lost productivity and income. These humeral shaft fractures have traditionally been regarded as benign, with high percentage of primary healing with conservative methods. However loss of reduction in the plaster cast invariably leads to malunion. Surgery is however indicated in some of these patients for optimum outcome. With improved implant design and surgical technique, operative management of humeral shaft fractures has increasingly become accepted2, 3. Most of the studies have used fracture union as the major determinant of the outcome and very few studies have examined the functions at the shoulder and elbow. PURPOSE To study functional outcome of operative management of humeral shaft fractures VARIABLES TO BE EVALUATED Age of the patient, etiology/cause of trauma, time and place of injury, occupation of the patient, associated injuries (e.g. neuro-vascular status, tendon injury), pain, instability, activities of daily living, motion and function. STUDY DESIGN Prospective Analytical Study SETTING Kenyatta National Hospital and PCEA Kikuyu Hospital Orthopedic surgery wards, clinics and casualty STUDY DURATION 1st April 2013 to 1st April 2014 METHODS AND MATERIALS Purposive sampling method was used to select 45 patients who sustained humeral shaft fractures requiring surgery. A thorough history and clinical examination was done. Age of the patient, etiology/cause of trauma, time and place of injury, occupation of the patient, associated injuries were recorded in a trauma sheet.