PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to analyze associated factors of primary radial nerve palsy and to evaluate clinical outcome for its treatment in patients with humerus shaft fracture. MATERIALS AND METHODS We divided two groups of patients with (17 patients) and without (116 patients) primary radial nerve palsy and analyzed correlation between radial nerve injury and various parameters, including age, sex, cause of injury, AO classification, fracture type, fracture location, and presence of open fracture. We also evaluated configuration of nerve injury, presence of recovery, and recovery time. RESULTS The overall prevalence of primary radial nerve palsy after humerus shaft fracture was 12.8% (17 palsies in 133 fractures). Younger age, AO type B, and distal 1/3 fractures showed significantly higher correlation with radial nerve palsy. No significant correlation was observed between radial nerve palsy and other parameters, including sex, cause of injury, fracture type, and presence of open fracture. Thirteen patients (76.5%) underwent early nerve exploration with internal fixation. Intraoperatively, all patients had continuity of radial nerve except one patient with segmental loss. At the final follow-up, 16 patients (94.1%) with radial nerve palsy had made a complete recovery. The mean time to complete recovery was 6.7 months. CONCLUSION Primary radial nerve palsy after humerus shaft fracture was more common in young age, AO type B, distal 1/3 fractures. Early surgical exploration can be recommended to confirm the condition of the radial nerve if the fracture should be fixed.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Treatment of Radial Nerve Palsy Associated with Humeral Shaft Fracture Soo-Hong Han, Jin-Woo Cho, Han-Seung Ryu Archives of Hand and Microsurgery.2020; 25(1): 60. CrossRef
PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to analyze the clinical effectiveness of open reduction in the treatment of distal humeral fracture using a newly designed combined approach of anterolateral and lateral approaches to protect the radial nerve. MATERIALS AND METHODS We investigated 24 consecutive cases of distal humeral fracture who received open reduction and internal fixation with a plate and screws with a minimum follow-up period of 1 year. We analyzed the patients' age, sex, fracture pattern, timing of the union, range of motion of the elbow joint, and complications. The Mayo elbow performance index (MEPI) was employed for the assessment of elbow joint function. RESULTS Clinical union was observed at 10.8 weeks (6~20 weeks) on average. Pre-operatively, there were 3 cases of incomplete radial nerve palsy. All of the cases recovered, and there was no additional radial nerve palsy due to surgery. According to the MEPI, 13 cases were "excellent" and 10 cases were "good" or better, comprising 95.83% of the cases. The range of motion at the elbow was 5.5 degrees (0~15 degrees) of extension, and 131.5 degrees (120~145 degrees) of flexion, suggesting no functional disability. The duration of return to work was 11.2 weeks (5~32 weeks) on average. There were no nonunion, malunion, or infection complications. CONCLUSION The combined anterolateral and lateral approach we designed is a clinically effective approach due to facilitation of protection of the radial nerve and attainment of adequate fixation space.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Posterior Dual Plating for Distal Shaft Fractures of the Humerus Chul-Hyun Cho, Kwang-Yeung Jeong, Beom-Soo Kim Journal of the Korean Fracture Society.2017; 30(3): 117. CrossRef
Modified Combined Approach for Distal Humerus Shaft Fracture: Anterolateral and Lateral Bimodal Approach Tong Joo Lee, Dae Gyu Kwon, Suk In Na, Seung Do Cha Clinics in Orthopedic Surgery.2013; 5(3): 209. CrossRef
PURPOSE To analyze related factors of radial nerve palsy in patients with humeral shaft fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS We reviewed 107 paients with humeral shaft fracture between January 2000 and June 2007. Thirteen patients had radial nerve palsy after trauma and 9 patients after the operation. We analyzed contributing factors of radial nerve palsy associated with humeral shaft fracture including the cause of trauma, location and pattern of fracture, surgical approach and tourniquet application in cases of plate fixation, the exploration for the nerve and the time for operation. RESULTS The difference in the incidences of radial nerve palsy after trauma and operation was not significant according to the location and pattern of fracture. The tendency of higher rate of radial nerve palsy after trauma in oblique or comminuted fractures, and after operation in spiral fractures was observed. The operation using intramedullary nailing and radial nerve exploration significantly reduced the incidence of radial nerve palsy after operation (p=0.01 and p=0.02). Posterior approach in open reduction and plate fixation showed a tendency of lower incidence of radial nerve palsy after operation (p=0.78). In logistic regression analysis, radial nerve exploration was the only significant factor that reduced the possibility of radial nerve palsy after operation (17.27: odds ratio, p=0.02). CONCLUSION In humeral shaft fractures, we should take into consideration whether intramedullary nailing is possible or not. In cases of anterior or anterolateral approach of open reduction and plate fixation, radial nerve should be carefully inspected. In most cases, we recommend radial nerve exploration in order to minimize the possibility of radial nerve palsy after operation.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Treatment of Radial Nerve Palsy Associated with Humeral Shaft Fracture Soo-Hong Han, Jin-Woo Cho, Han-Seung Ryu Archives of Hand and Microsurgery.2020; 25(1): 60. CrossRef
Associated Factors of Radial Nerve Palsy Combined with Humerus Shaft Fracture Si-Wuk Lee, Chul-Hyun Cho, Ki-Choer Bae Journal of the Korean Fracture Society.2014; 27(3): 185. CrossRef
Polarus Intramedullary Nail for Proximal Humeral and Humeral Shaft Fractures in Elderly Patients with Osteoporosis Youn-Soo Hwang, Kwang-Yeol Kim, Hyung-Chun Kim, Su-Han Ahn, Dong-Eun Lee Journal of the Korean Fracture Society.2013; 26(1): 14. CrossRef
Sometimes serious tension occurs in the radial nerve when doing internal fixation for distal humerus shaft fracture or neurorrhaphy for radial nerve injury. Medial transposition of radial nerve on fracture site can avoid direct radial nerve injury by fracture fragment, radial nerve tension by plating for distal humerus shaft fracture, and also safe from neural tension during neurorrhaphy of damaged radial nerve. We reported here total 6 cases of backward transposition of radial nerve including 2 cases of radial nerve injury associated with humerus fracture and 4 cases of comminuted fracture of humerus shaft.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Transhumeral Anterior Radial Nerve Transposition to Simplify Anticipated Future Humeral Reconstruction David A. Muzykewicz, Reid A. Abrams The Journal of Hand Surgery.2017; 42(7): 578.e1. CrossRef
Transfracture medial transposition of the radial nerve associated with plate fixation of the humerus Ali Hassan Chamseddine, Amer Abdallah, Hadi Zein, Assad Taha International Orthopaedics.2017; 41(7): 1463. CrossRef
Trans-fracture transposition of the radial nerve during the open approach of humeral shaft fractures Ali H. Chamseddine, Hadi K. Zein, Abdullah A. Alasiry, Nader A. Mansour, Ali M. Bazzal European Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery & Traumatology.2013; 23(6): 725. CrossRef
Humerus Shaft Fractures in Leisure Sport 'Flyfish Riding' - 4 Cases Report - Bong Gun Lee, Ki Chul Park, Youn Ho Choi, Woo Sung Jung, Kyu Tae Hwang Journal of the Korean Fracture Society.2012; 25(4): 327. CrossRef