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Delayed union of humeral shaft fractures: comparison of autograft with and without platelet-rich plasma treatment: a randomized, single blinded clinical trial

  • Trauma Surgery
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Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction

Despite an adequate orthopedic treatment with functional bracing, some patients develop a delayed union in humeral shaft fractures. The objective of the present study was to determine the bone consolidation time among patients with delayed union of diaphyseal humeral fractures who were managed with locking compression plate (LCP) fixation combined with an iliac crest autograft using platelet-rich plasma (PRP) as a co-adjuvant.

Materials and methods

This study was a controlled, randomized, experimental, longitudinal, comparative, prospective, blind clinical trial. Patients diagnosed with delayed union of a diaphyseal humeral fracture with at least 4 months of evolution were treated with an open reduction and LCP osteosynthesis combined with an iliac crest autograft. The experimental group also received PRP. The patients were assessed radiographically until 36 weeks of evolution.

Results

A total of 16 patients were included. Both groups had similar demographic characteristics. The patients treated with PRP had an earlier beginning of bone consolidation. Furthermore, these same patients exhibited bone consolidation at 19.9 weeks, on average, in contrast to 25.4 weeks in the control group.

Conclusions

The use of PRP promotes earlier bone consolidation in patients with delayed union of the humeral shaft.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Ortopedia y Traumatología, Hospital Universitario “Dr. José E. Gonzalez”, Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, Ave Madero y Gonzalitos s/n. Mitras Centro, 4to piso, CP: 64480, Monterrey, Mexico

    Carlos Acosta-Olivo, Abiel Garza-Borjon, Mario Simental-Mendia, Felix Vilchez-Cavazos, Yadira Tamez-Mata & Victor Peña-Martinez

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  1. Carlos Acosta-Olivo
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  2. Abiel Garza-Borjon
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  3. Mario Simental-Mendia
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  4. Felix Vilchez-Cavazos
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  5. Yadira Tamez-Mata
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  6. Victor Peña-Martinez
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Correspondence to Carlos Acosta-Olivo.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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This article was approved by our Research Ethics Committee.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Acosta-Olivo, C., Garza-Borjon, A., Simental-Mendia, M. et al. Delayed union of humeral shaft fractures: comparison of autograft with and without platelet-rich plasma treatment: a randomized, single blinded clinical trial. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 137, 1247–1252 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-017-2736-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-017-2736-5

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