HUMERAL SHAFT FRACTURES

Objectives: To determine the functional outcome of operative management of humeral shaft fractures. Study Design: Prospective cohort study. Place and Duration: At the Department of Orthopaedics, Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Rawalpindi, for a duration of 02 years from 12th January 2016 to 11th January 2018. Patients and Methods: 45 patients presenting with humeral shaft fractures and meeting the inclusion criteria were included. All patients underwent fixation with a Dynamic Compression Plate (DCP). Functional outcome assessed at six months post-operatively using the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Scoring System (ASES). Results: Mean age of patients included in the study was 34.6 ± 10.3 years.Out of the 45 patients, 31 (68.9%) were males and 14 (31.1%) females. Pre-dominant condition resulting in operative management was humeral shaft fracture in poly trauma patients (n=27, 60%). Shoulder functioning following surgery was good with a mean ASES score of 81.1±10.6. Conclusion: Plating in humeral shaft fractures results in a good functional outcome postoperatively.