Fixation of Middle Third Humeral Shaft Fractures by Anteromedial Plate Through Anterolateral Approach

Abstract
Background: Treatment of humeral shaft fractures has been a subject of debate for many decades. Even though a large majority of humeral shaft fractures can be treated by non operative methods, few conditions like open fractures, polytrauma, ipsilateral humeral shaft and forearm fractures require surgical intervention. The goal of treatment of humeral shaft fractures is to establish union with an acceptable humeral alignment and to restore the patient to pre-injury level of function. The objective was to assess the incidence of radial nerve palsy, non-union and mean time required for in antero-medial plate osteosynthesis with anterolateral approach and also to measure the functional outcome of this procedure.
Aim of Study: The aim of this study is evaluation of results of fixation of middle third of humeral shaft fractures by anteromedial plate osteosynthesis through an anterolateral approach.
Patients and Methods: In this prospective study, 21 cases with middle third humeral shaft fractures were treated with anteromedial plate through anterolateral approach. Clinical and radiological data were analyzed.
Results: These cases were assessed according to Murphy scoring systems for middle third humerus fracture the clinical results were graded as excellent in 14 patients (66.6%), good in4 patients (19%), fair in 3 patients (14.3%) & poor in no patients (0%). The excellent and good results were considered as satisfactory results, while the unsatisfactory included the fair and the poor results. Thus, satisfactory results were found in 18 patients (85.7%), and the unsatisfactory results were found in 3 patients (14.3%).
Conclusion: This study proves that anteromedial plating of middle shaft humerus through anterolateral approach is safe, effective and avoids release of deltoid tendon insertion and also avoids radial nerve dissection and its injury.