Biomaterial Database

Is there a place for external fixation in humeral shaft fractures? 2000

W O Ruland

Department of General and Trauma Surgery, Städtisches Krankenhaus Marienhospital, Nordring 37-41, D-59821, Arnsberg, Germany.

There is a good indication for unilateral axial dynamic external fixation in fractures of the humeral shaft when the fracture appears in the distal third or in cases of bilateral fractures. A non-union or a posttraumatic paralysis of the radial nerve may be indications for external fixation as well as fractures associated with multiple injuries. Further indications include osteitis, infected non-union and comminuted fracture. There is maximum protection of the soft tissue with this method of treatment. External fixation combines the advantages of conservative and operative treatment by influencing callus formation by dynamizing, distraction or compression. Minimizing soft tissue damage facilitates the decision for early exploration of the radial nerve in cases of palsy. A safer positioning technique of the distal screws of the fixator is described.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D009104	Multiple Trauma	Multiple physical insults or injuries occurring simultaneously.	Injuries, Multiple,Trauma, Multiple,Wounds, Multiple,Multiple Injuries,Polytrauma,Injury, Multiple,Multiple Injury,Multiple Traumas,Multiple Wound,Multiple Wounds,Polytraumas,Traumas, Multiple,Wound, Multiple
D011826	Radial Nerve	A major nerve of the upper extremity. In humans the fibers of the radial nerve originate in the lower cervical and upper thoracic spinal cord (usually C5 to T1), travel via the posterior cord of the brachial plexus, and supply motor innervation to extensor muscles of the arm and cutaneous sensory fibers to extensor regions of the arm and hand.	Nerve, Radial,Nerves, Radial,Radial Nerves
D001858	Bone Nails	Rods of bone, metal, or other material used for fixation of the fragments or ends of fractured bones.	Bone Pins,Bone Nail,Bone Pin,Nail, Bone,Nails, Bone,Pin, Bone,Pins, Bone
D001864	Bone Wires	Steel wires, often threaded through the skin, soft tissues, and bone, used to fix broken bones. Kirschner wires or apparatus also includes the application of traction to the healing bones through the wires.	Kirschner Wire,Kirschner Wires,Bone Wire,Wire, Bone,Wire, Kirschner,Wires, Bone,Wires, Kirschner
D005260	Female		Females
D005592	Fracture Fixation	The use of metallic devices inserted into or through bone to hold a fracture in a set position and alignment while it heals.	Skeletal Fixation,Fracture Reduction,Fixation, Fracture,Fixation, Skeletal,Fixations, Fracture,Fixations, Skeletal,Fracture Fixations,Fracture Reductions,Reduction, Fracture,Reductions, Fracture,Skeletal Fixations
D005597	Fractures, Open	Fractures in which there is an external wound communicating with the break of the bone.	Fractures, Compound,Compound Fracture,Compound Fractures,Fracture, Compound,Fracture, Open,Open Fracture,Open Fractures
D005599	Fractures, Ununited	A fracture in which union fails to occur, the ends of the bone becoming rounded and eburnated, and a false joint occurs. (Stedman, 25th ed)	Fracture, Ununited,Ununited Fracture,Ununited Fractures