To Study Functional Outcome of Humeral Shaft Fractures Treated by Intramedullary Nailing Versus Dynamic Compression Plating at a Tertiary Health Care Centre

Abstract

Background: The proportion of humeral shaft fractures being treated conservatively reportedly varies from 33% to 95%. Nonsurgical treatment results in higher incidence of union and fewer complications than open reduction and internal fixation. Aims and Objectives: To study and compare the functional outcome of Dynamic Compression Plating and Interlock Nailing for humeral shaft fractures. Material and Methods: After taking approval of ethics committee of our institute, we studied a total of sixty cases over a span of 36 months – October 2018 to December 2020. Study was carried out on cases of humeral shaft fractures requiring operational intervention in department of orthopaedics of tertiary care centre in Maharashtra. Results: A total of 76.7% cases in plating group had excellent outcome as compared to 56.7% in nailing group. Also poor to fair outcome was noted more in nailing group (13.4% vs 10%). Conclusion: Statistically comparable results have been observed for patients undergoing surgical intervention for humeral shaft fractures among locking plating and intramedullary nailing. Both provide excellent and favourable results in terms of union and function, however a higher rate of excellent results and tendency for union was seen with dynamic compression plating group.

An Observational Study on the Functional Outcomes of Intramedullary Nailing Versus Dynamic Compression Plating for Humeral Shaft Fractures

“…Implant failure was seen in 3.3% of nailing cases and 6.7% of nailing instances. In the study by Gude N et al, problems occurred in 33.3% (6/18 cases) of plating cases compared to 65% (13/20 cases) of nailing cases (1) . Two cases of plating group non-union and zero occurrences of nailing were seen, but one incidence of implant failure per group was observed.…”

“…The supracondylar ridge of the distal humerus is located at the end of the humeral shaft, which begins at the lower margin of the pectoralis major insertion (1) . Humeral shaft fracture, which makes up roughly 3% of all fractures, is the fracture that happens in this area.…”