J Korean Orthop Assoc.  1980 Mar;15(1):37-42. 10.4055/jkoa.1980.15.1.37.

Radial Nerve Palsy Complicating Humerus Shaft Fracture

• Moon MS
• Kim I
• Lee JG

• KMID: 2450557
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4055/jkoa.1980.15.1.37

Abstract

The authors reviewed 17 patients with radial nerve palsy complicating fracture of humerus who were treated at the Department of Orthopedlc Surgery, St. Mary's Hospital Catholic Medical College, for past 3 years from Jan. 1974 to Dec. 1976, and the following results were obtalned. 1. The ratio of male to female in 17 cases with radial nerve palsy was 4 to 1, and In patients within the first decade the ratio was same (1:1). But those in the 3rd and 4th decade showed high incidence of palsy. 2. Among 113 humerus shaft fractures, 17 cases (15.0%) complicated the radial nerve palsy; among 17 cases the middle shaft fractures were 15, lower 2, none in the upper third. 3. The radial nerve was the most vulnerable to injury at the middle third of the humerus, especially when there was comminution of fracture. 4. The incidence of radial nerve palsy in closed fracture (102 cases) was 13.7% (14 cases), and 27.2% (3cases) in open fracture (11 cases). 5. By early surgical exploration the practlcal cause of radial nerve palsy in 9 cases were found; 2 cases by bruise, 2 by interposition, 2 severance of nerve, one stretching, one impaled, and one unknown. 6. There were no signiflcant correlation between the type of nerve damage and the degree of its recovery, and between duration of paralysis since onset and its prognosis. 7. Of the 17 cases with palsy, complete recoveries were obtained 11 cases, 5 incomplete, and no recovery in one.

MeSH Terms

Contusions
Female
Fractures, Closed
Fractures, Open
Humans
Humerus*
Incidence
Male
Paralysis*
Prognosis
Radial Nerve*