Approximately 1-3% of all human fractures and 5-10% of all long bone fractures occur in the humeral shaft [1,2]. They account for about 20% of all humeral fractures [1]. The humeral shaft is situated between the superior margin of pectoralis major tendon insertion to supracondylar ridges. The incidence of those fractures in population is 14-20/100 000 per year [1]. Their importance is great bec...

Background: Treatment of humeral shaft fractures has been a subject of debate for many decades. Even though a large majority of humeral shaft fractures can be treated by non operative methods, few conditions like open fractures, polytrauma, ipsilateral humeral shaft and forearm fractures require surgical intervention. The goal of treatment of humeral shaft fractures is to establish union with a...

The treatment of humeral shaft fractures ranges from conservative modalities to operative fixation, including plate osteosynthesis and intramedullary fixation. Nonunion is a complication of conservative and operative interventions but is more often associated with elastic nailing. This article discusses elucidates the successful outcomes achieved with flexible nailing of humeral shaft fractures.

CONTEXT Functional humeral bracing remains the gold standard for treatment of humeral shaft fractures. There is an increasing trend in the literature to perform operative fixation of these fractures. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION The aim of this systematic review was to compare the level one evidence for the outcome of non-operative with operative management of humeral shaft fractures in adults. A com...

Fractures of the humeral shaft are common, account for approximately 3% of all orthopaedic injuries, and result in a significant burden to society from lost productivity and wages. Treatment modalities have greatly evolved since their first description in ancient Egypt (circa 1600 BC); however, fundamental management principles have remained consistent throughout time. Nonoperative management c...

OBJECTIVES To assess the results and clinical outcome of delayed union and nonunion humeral shaft treatment using locked medullary nails. SUBJECTS AND METHODS The Russel and Taylor humeral locking nail was used to treat 21 patients with humeral shaft fractures at Al Razi hospital, Kuwait, from 1997 to 2001. Of these, 8 had delayed union and 13 nonunion. Also, 13 had previous operative treatme...

OBJECTIVES To compare the risk of major complications after either minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) or intramedullary nailing (IMN) of humeral shaft fractures. DESIGN Retrospective, case-match controlled study. SETTING A major metropolitan tertiary referral trauma center in Australia. PATIENTS Thirty patients with fractures of the humeral shaft. INTERVENTION Either MIPO or...

The optimal treatment approach for the initial management of radial nerve palsy associated with humeral shaft fractures has yet to be conclusively determined. The authors performed a systematic review of the literature to identify studies that compared the outcomes after initial nonoperative and operative management for radial nerve palsy associated with acute humeral shaft fractures. A meta-an...