Application of Ultrasonography in Conservative Treatment of Humeral Shaft Fracture in Children (preprint)

ABSTRACT

Purpose: Most of humeral shaft fractures in children could be treated satisfactorily by conservative treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the application value of ultrasonography in conservative treatment of humeral shaft fracture in children.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed children admitted to our hospital, for humeral shaft fracture from January 2014 to March 2018. The patients were divided into two groups ultrasonography group and X-ray group. All patients were instructed to re-examined at 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 12 weeks, 24 weeks and 1 year from the injury date for follow-up, and evaluated the prognosis according to the Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score at 12 months.Results: A total of 37 children were divided into ultrasonography group, 32 children were divided into X-ray group. There was no significant difference in prognosis between the two groups. The mean number of radiation exposures of ultrasonography group was less and ultrasonic examination found radial nerve injury, and using ultrasound reduced the chance of direct or in direct contact with infected peoples. Conclusion: Ultrasound is a non-invasive, non-radioactive test, which could decrease risk of COVID-19 infection and detect the vascular nerve injury caused by fracture. Ultrasonography may be the examination method for follow-up conservative treatment of humeral shaft fracture in children during the epidemic period.