Clinical Outcome of Treatment of Diaphyseal Fractures of Humerus Treated by Titanium Elastic Nails in Adult Age Group

Abstract

Introduction

Humerus shaft fracture is one of the most common injuries to the musculoskeletal system, which are managed both conservatively and surgically. There are pitfalls, advantages and disadvantages in each method. The individual fracture analysis determines the therapeutic options.

Aim

To assess the clinical outcome of treatment of diaphyseal fractures of humerus treated by Titanium elastic nail in adult age group by DASH scoring.

Materials and Methods

It was a prospective study of 20 cases of diaphyseal fracture of humerus admitted to Era’s Lucknow Medical College and Hospital between October 2014 and September 2015 treated with close reduction and internal fixation with titanium elastic nail. Functional outcome was evaluated using DASH scoring system and radiological outcome was evaluated by serial radiographs. The data was processed with SPSS software version 16.0 (Chicago, inc. USA) and it was summarized in proportion and percentage.

Results

In our series of 20 patients, 17 were males and three were females. Most of the patients were between 30-50 years of age (mean 38 years). Most common mode of injury, side of involvement, level of fracture and fracture type were road traffic accidents (60%), right side (53.3%) and mid one third (75%), transverse (60%) respectively.

So, in 65% of the patients, there was no disability of arm shoulder and hand as DASH score was within normal range and in 15% of the patients the disability was mild to moderate as scoring was slightly higher than normal and in 20% the disability was severe as the DASH score could not be calculated because of non union.

Conclusion

Elastic nail fixation require very minimal soft tissue dissection and being a close reduction, the biology of the fracture is also not disturbed and the chances of nerve injury are much less and as the non union was seen in oblique and spiral fracture type hence it should be used with caution or else other alternative methods of fixation should be used.