Treatment of Fractures of the Humerus with External Fixation

Abstract

Aim: We present a retrospective study of the results of treatment of 42 fractures of the diaphysis of the humerus by means of external fixation.
Material and Method: 28 patients were men and 14 women aged from 19-84 years (average 44). 14 of these patients were multiply injured and 4 suffered from metastatic disease. 7 fractures were open and 35 closed.
Results: 34 fractures united uneventfully. 5 patients developed delayed union and were treated by removal of the external fixator and application of plates and bone grafts. In one patient the delayed union was treated by locked intramedullary fixation and grafts and in another patient only bone grafts were applied without removal of the external fixation. One patient developed septic pseudarthrosis and the fracture remained un-united despite eradication of the infection.
Conclusion: We conclude that the use of external fixation as a final method of treatment of fractures of the humerus can be useful for certain types of patients but in 19 % of our cases the method had to be revised and additional operations performed.

Key words

Fractures of humerus - external fixation - operative treatment

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