The purpose of a new study published in Cureus was to evaluate the duration and rate of union of adult humerus diaphysis fractures treated with a functional brace.

This retrospective study assessed 46 hospital-admitted patients with humeral diaphyseal fractures, from 2010-2014, who were treated with a functional brace. The demographic data, fracture type, level of fracture and presence of bone union were evaluated from clinical records. The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (Quick-DASH) questionnaire score of the patients was registered and analyzed, and its correlation with parameters such as patients’ age and fracture bone union time was evaluated.

It was found that:

• The mean age of the patients enrolled was 45.5 years.
• Six (13.6%) patients had non-union and five others had delayed bone union (10.86%).
• However, three (6.5%) patients had radial nerve injury while all recovered without sequelae.
• Among those who achieved bone union – 30% had an angulation above five degrees, whereas 7.5% had radiological shortness.
• The mean Quick-DASH score was 6.7; there was no statistically significant correlation with parameters like fracture type, level, angulation, radiological shortness and radial nerve involvement.

In inference, it was stated that a functional brace is a good treatment choice with low complication rates and has satisfactory bone union rates in humerus diaphyseal fractures.

Source: Cureus. 2020 Feb 22;12(2):e7077. doi: 10.7759/cureus.7077.