A comparative study on the fixation of fracture shaft of humerus in adults by compression plate and intramedullary interlocking nail

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate comparative analysis of two series in patients with diaphyseal fractures of humerus in the adults operated with dynamic compression plating and intra-medullary interlock nailing with focus on their functional outcome results using DASH score and complications. The present study was conducted in the Department of Orthopaedics, Osmania Medical College and Hospital, Hyderabad, Telangana, India for a period of one year. The study subjects consisted of n = 28 adult patients of fracture shaft of humerus with indications for surgical management. Among n = 28 subjects, n = 15 (53.57%) cases showed excellent results, n = 8 (28.57%) good, n = 3 (10.72%) fair and n = 2 (7.14%) poor results. Among n = 15 subjects with excellent results, n = 9 (60%) were of plating group and 6 (46.15%) interlocking nailing. In intramedullary nailing group, 4 (30.77%) patients showed good results, 2 (15.38%) fair and 1 (7.69%) poor results. In patients treated by plate fixation, 5 (33.33%) cases showed good results, 1 (6.67%) fair and 1 (6.67%) poor results. For all the subjects, DASH scoring was in the range of 21-30 in 50% subjects followed by 10 - 20 in 32.14%, 51 - 60 in 10.72% and 31 - 40 in 7.14% cases. In this series, both the methods of treatment i.e. dynamic compression plating and interlocking nailing showed good functional outcome results. We prefer dynamic compression plating method as the complications are less compared to the interlocking nailing method and also with respect to pain and function of the shoulder joint.