Affiliation:
1. Department of Orthopaedics, Denver Health Medical Center, Denver, CO;
2. Department of Orthopaedics, Naval Medical Center, San Diego, CA; and
3. Department of Orthopaedics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO.
Abstract
Objectives:
To determine whether the initial radiographic displacement of humeral shaft fractures is associated with failure of nonoperative management.
Design:
Retrospective cohort study.
Setting:
Urban level 1 trauma center.
Patients/Participants:
106 patients with humeral shaft fractures (OTA/AO 12) initially managed nonoperatively.
Intervention:
Functional bracing.
Main Outcome Measurements:
Failure of nonoperative management, defined as conversion to surgery, malunion, and delayed union/nonunion.
Results:
Nonoperative management failed in 33 (31%) of 106 included patients with 27 patients (25%) requiring surgery. On multivariate analysis, female sex [odds ratio (OR): 3.50, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.09 to 11.21], American Society of Anesthesiologist classification >1 (OR: 7.16, CI: 1.95 to 26.29), initial fracture medial/lateral (ML) translation (OR: 1.09, CI: 1.01 to 1.17, per unit change), and initial fracture anterior–posterior (AP) angulation (OR: 1.09, CI: 1.02 to 1.15, per unit change) were independently associated with failure of nonoperative management. Initial fracture displacement values that maximized the sensitivity (SN) and specificity (SP) for failure included an AP angulation >11 degrees (SN 75%, SP 64%) and ML translation >12 mm (SN 55%, SP 75%). The failure rate in patients with none, 1, or both of these fracture parameters was 3.1% (1/32), 35.6% (20/56), and 66.6% (12/18), respectively.
Conclusions:
Nearly one-third of patients experienced failure of initial nonoperative management. Failure was found to be associated with greater initial fracture AP angulation and ML translation. Fracture displacement cut-off values were established that may be used by surgeons to counsel patients with these injuries.
Level of Evidence:
Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Publisher
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Subject
Orthopedics and Sports Medicine,General Medicine,Surgery