A Clinical Study of the Humeral shaft Fracture

Ha, Sang Ho; Lee, Sang Hong; Shin, Dong Min; Kim, Seung

Abstract

The cases of 82 humeral shaft fractures were evaluated at the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chosun University Hospital, during the ten years period from January 1978 to December 1987 and the following results were obtained. 1. The most common type was transverse fracture (59.8%) and the most common site was middle one third (61.0%). 2. The average time of bone union were about 9.6 weeks in non-operative cases and 9 weeks in operative cases. 3. The radial nerve palsy was more common in transverse fracture of humerus at the middle one third level. 4. Among the 28 radial nerve palsy associated with humerus fracture, 19 cases were treated by conservatively, and 9 cases were treated by surigical exploration. 73.7% of conservatively treated cases and 77.0% of operatively treated cases regained most of the functional lost of the radial nerve.