The conservative and surgical therapy of traumatic humeral shaft fractures

Sixty-three patients with humeral shaft fractures were evaluated clinically and radiographically 18 months after injury; 27 patients were treated surgically (group A) and 36 patients conservatively (group B). Analysis of the results according to a score by Kwasny revealed 6.2 points in group A and 2.2 points in group B (P < 0.0001; F = 46.9). The results of these two comparable groups suggest that conservative treatment of humeral shaft fractures is superior regarding mobility of the shoulder and elbow, strength, the incidence of neurological complications, pain, subjective rating and cosmesis. There were no differences on roentgenograms between the two groups (P = 0.48).