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Recovery of shoulder joint function after humeral shaft fracture: a comparative study between antegrade intramedullary nailing and plate fixation.

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Abstract

Introduction

Antegrade intramedullary (IM) nailing of humeral shaft fractures is reported to cause shoulder joint impairment. This retrospective study compared shoulder joint symptoms, range of motion (ROM), and isometric strength after antegrade IM nailing and dynamic compression (DC) plating of humeral shaft fractures.

Materials and methods

We compared 29 patients with DC plating and 44 with antegrade IM nailing of their humeral shaft fractures. Shoulder pain, L’Insalata and Constant scores, shoulder joint ROM and isometric shoulder strengths were measured after mean follow-up of 6.2 (1–15) years (DC plating) and 5.5 (2–10) years (IM nailing).

Results

Patients had nonsignificantly more shoulder pain after IM nailing than after DC plating. Shoulder scores and isometric strength measurements showed no difference between the groups. Flexion was significantly better after DC plating, but none of the other ROM parameters differed between the groups. The shoulder scores and all ROM and strength parameters of the injured side were significantly lower than on the uninjured side in both groups.

Conclusions

Shoulder joint ROM and strength does not recover to normal after humeral shaft fracture. Antegrade IM nailing if performed properly is not responsible for shoulder joint impairment.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank physiotherapist Nina Sevander-Kreus for her expert work in scoring and range of motion measurements.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Division of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, University Hospital, Kajaanintie 52, 90220, Oulu, Finland

    Tapio Flinkkilä, Pekka Hyvönen & Martti Hämäläinen

  2. Department of Physical Medicine, University Hospital, Kajaanintie 52, 90220, Oulu, Finland

    Pertti Siira

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  1. Tapio Flinkkilä
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  2. Pekka Hyvönen
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  4. Martti Hämäläinen
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Correspondence to Tapio Flinkkilä.

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Flinkkilä, T., Hyvönen, P., Siira, P. et al. Recovery of shoulder joint function after humeral shaft fracture: a comparative study between antegrade intramedullary nailing and plate fixation.. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 124, 537–541 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-004-0727-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-004-0727-9

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