J Korean Fract Soc.  1996 Jan;9(1):170-176.

Treatment of the humeral shaft fracture with interlocking intramedullary nail

• Kim SB
• Lee JW
• Choi WT

Abstract

In general, fracture of the shaft of the humerus is treated non-operative or by operative methods. The accepted treatment of the Isolated low-energy humeral shaft fracture is non-operative method. However, the fracture of the humerus that are associated with high energy, significant communition, unstable fracture patterns, or fractures that have been difficult to reduce or maintain reduction have been difficult to treat or maintain reduction have been difficult to treat by non-operative method. This has led to the use of operative intervention for the treatment of the humeral shaft fracture. The use of open technique with plate and screw is difficult due to potential injury of the neurovascular structure, increased risk of the infection and extensile exposure of the fracture site. Intramedullary nailing has advantages over other techniques of internal fixation and has been used to maintain the alignment and length of humerus. Especially, hiornechanically locked intramedullary nailing has the theoretical advantage of providing a weight shearing device and a ability to decrease the effect of rotational shear at the fracture site. This would increase the inherent stability at the fracture site and thus promote union. Authors performed interlocking intramedullary nailing for 35 cases of humeral shaft fracture from July-1993 until May-1995.

Keyword

Humerus shaft; Intramedullary nailing

MeSH Terms

Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary
Humerus
Methods