Prospective comparative study between antegrade interlocking undreamed nail versus compression plate fixation of acute closed humeral mid third shaft humerus in adults

Abstract

Objective: To assess the functional outcome, time to union, shoulder pain, blood loss, operative time, iatrogenic radial nerve injury, hospitalization, and infection. Methodology: It is a prospective randomized study on 30 patients with mid-shaft humerus fracture according to AO classification (1.2A1, 2, 3 and 1,2B) with functioning radial nerve. They were randomly dividing into two groups. Group A were treated by a closed antegrade interlocking nail, and group B treated by open reduction and locked compression plate fixation. The follow-up was up to 6 months, including time to union, shoulder pain, intraoperative blood loss, operative time and iatrogenic radial nerve injury. Functional outcome was assessed by quick DASH score. Results: Road traffic accident was the main cause of trauma (70%). The average time to union were statistically not different in both groups. Quick DASH score was good in both groups and statistically not significant. Shoulder pain in group A was (40%), while none patient in group B (p>0.017). The operative period time, mean hospital stays, and blood loss of group B were significantly higher than in group A Conclusion: Nailing is minimally invasive, has less infection rate, iatrogenic nerve injury, operative time, intraoperative blood loss, and hospitalization.