Antegrade intramedullary interlocking nailing versus plating for the treatment of humeral shaft fractures

ABSTRACT

This prospective r and omized study included 46 humeral shaft fractures managed by antegrade intramedullary interlocking nail [Group I] and compression plate [Group II] with 23 patients in each group. The mean age was 35.6 years in group I and 33.8 years in group II [p>0.05]. The mean blood loss was 145 ml in group I while it was 437 ml in group II [p<0.05]. The mean operative time was 66.7 minutes for group I and 88.2 minutes for group II [p<0.05]. the average time of union was 14.9 weeks for group I and 15.2 weeks for group II [p>0.05]. The UCLA shoulder rating scale was used for assessment of the shoulder function. In group I four patients had excellent results, 13 patients had good results and six patients had fair results, while in group II, 18 patients had excellent results and five patients had good results. The modified rating system of Morrey et al. was used for assessment of the elbow function. All patients in group I had excellent results while in group II 17 patients had excellent results and seven patients had good results: