Is closed reduction and interlocking intramedullary nailing fit for the treatment of fractures of humeral shaft with radial nerve injury? / 中华创伤骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study whether closed reduction and interlocking intramedullary nailing will worsen the injured radial nerve associated with the fracture of humeral shaft.Methods Of the 353 patients with fracture of humeral shaft who received operation from January 2002 to January 2005,63 ones were complicated with preoperative injury to their radial nerve.A retrospective analysis was done of their physical examination records, operative records,X-ray films and results of the treatment.Eleven cases were treated with closed reduction and interlocking intramedullary nailing,and 52 cases with open reduction and internal fixation of plates and screws fol- lowed by exploration to the radial nerve.Chisquare test of PEMS 3.1 system was adopted to analyze the clinical data. Results The radial nerve was embedded by the fracture ends in nine cases(17.3%)of the 52 cases,and con- tused in the other 43 ones.In the 63 cases,The injured nerves recovered spontaneously 2 to 12 weeks postoperatively except in twn cases.All the eases got bony union 3 to 4 months after operation.Closed reduction and interlocking intramedullary nailing has hardly more harmful effects on the injured radial nerve assoeiated with the fracture of humeral shaft than open reduction and internal fixation of plates and screws followed by neural exploration.Con- clusion Closed reduction and interlocking intramedullary nailing is fit for the freatment of fractures of humeral shaft with radial nerve injury.