Open AccessHumeral Shaft Fractures: A Literature Review on Current Treatment Methods
Author(s) -
Ahmed Daoub,
Pedro Miguel Oliveira Ferreira,
Srinivas Cheruvu,
Matthew T. Walker,
W. P. R. Gibson,
Georgios Orfanos,
Rohit Subedar Singh
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
the open orthopaedics journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1874-3250
DOI - 10.2174/18743250-v16-e2112091
Subject(s) - medicine , gold standard (test) , humeral shaft , scope (computer science) , surgery , general surgery , humerus , computer science , programming language
In this review, we aim to provide a concise yet comprehensive summation of the assessment and management of humeral shaft fractures. These are uncommon but prevalent enough that they are part of any trauma surgeon's scope of practice. They have historically been treated using non-operative methods, including braces and casts, supported by published excellent results in the rate of the bone union. However, recently published studies challenge these results and suggest the outcomes might be better with surgery, but the complications of an operation such as infection and nerve injury can not be overlooked. In summary, non-surgical treatment is still the gold standard in the treatment of these fractures, but the indications for surgical management are now clearer and include early signs of delayed union and patients who are unable to have a brace fitted or are uncompliant. It is likely that these new developments will start to change practice, and therefore the treatment of humeral shaft fractures should be a topic of interest of any clinician who deals with them.