Treatment of humeral shaft fracture by interlocking IM nail

Kim, Byung Jik; Seo, Jung Gook; Choo, Suk Kyu; Yoon, Yoon Seong

Abstract

The ideal treatment for humeral shaft fractures has been a topic of discussion for long times. Conventionally conservative methods like hanging arm cast, coaptation splint and functional brace were used. The operative treatment included plate and screws, intramedullary rods were used. The many known advantage of interlocking nails used in femur and tibia fractures were recently applied to humeral shaft fracture. Among them Seidel nail developed by Dr. Seidel in 1989 was inserted by splitting the rotator cuff and distal locking by expanding the distal tip of the nail through a long screw driver. This study is a preliminary report of first 10 cases of humeral shaft fracture which was internally fixed with Seidel nail during the period of September 1992 to September 1993. The findings are as follows. 1. 9 out of 10 cases(90%) achieved union. 2. Average union time was 10 weeks. 3, According to Neers shoulder functional score, 8 patients(80%) achieved either satisfactory or excellent shoulder function postoperatively. 4. 2 complications occurred. One nonunion and one distal fixation failure. Since fixation of humeral shaft fracture, by Seidel nail can achieve high union rate and good shoulder function, it should be considered as one of many methods to treat humeral shaft fracture.