Abstract:

Objectives: The aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of deformity on functional scores of humeral shaft fracture patients who treated conservatively with functional bracing. Materials and Methods: Patients who had humeral shaft fracture and treated with functional bracing between 2014 and 2019, were included in this study. Second or third day, two part functional brace was applied. The deformity angle of the humerus on the anteroposterior radiography was measured and divided into 3 groups. Elbow range of motion (ROM), shoulder abduction and the difference of range of external rotation (ER) compared to contralateral shoulder was evaluated. Moreover, Constant scores of the shoulder and Mayo scores of the elbow were evaluated. Results: Forty-two patients were evaluated. The mean healing time was determined as 12.11 ± 2.31 weeks. Thirty-seven of the patients were successfully treated. Nonunions were detected in only 5 patients during follow-up. The varus deformity was measured between 6°-10° in 18 patients, >11° in 12 patients, and between 0°-5°in 7 patients. In the varus deformity groups, a statistically significant difference was observed for the external rotation measurements (p:0.044) and for elbow ROM measurements (p: 0.048). The reason of the external rotation and elbow ROM measurements difference was >11° varus deformity group. There was no statistically significant difference between the shoulder abduction range, Mayo scores and shoulder constant scores of the varus deformity groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: Our clinical and radiological datas show that satisfactory results are obtained in most of the humeral shaft fractures treated with functional bracing.

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