EINTRAMEDULLARY INTERLOCKING NAILS: A TREATMENT OPTION FOR CLOSED DIAPHYSEAL HUMERAL FRACTUR

Objective: Outcome of intramedullary interlocking nails in the treatment of closed diaphyseal humeral fracture at Liaquat university hospital Hyderabad/Jamshoro. Materials and methods: Study was performed in Orthopaedic surgery department & traumatology Unit-II, LU HMS Jamshoro/ Hyderabad from February 2011 to July 2013. It is an observational and cross sectional study. All the cases who were admitted for type A-I-2, A-II-2 and A-III-2 closed diaphyseal fracture of humerus assessed by X-rays and clinical examination, cases with minor head injuries, 20-40 years of age and fracture duration less than 2 weeks were selected. Complete routine laboratory investigations were carried out and all the selected cases were underwent intramedullary interlocking nails treatment. After treatment cases were discharged within 7 days and were followed weekly 4 times and then monthly follow-up visits were advised up-to 6 months, all the data regarding outcome in the term of postoperative pain, complications and hospital stay was recorded in the Performa. Results: The 38 patients of closed diaphyseal fracture of humerus were underwent intramedullary nails. Majority 26/(68.5%) were male. Mean age was 35.4+7.5Years. The commonest source of humerus fracture in this study was RTA. Postoperative moderate pain was seen in 10(26.3%) patients, severe pain was noted in 4(10.5%) patients. Postoperative complications seen as Infection in 1/(2.6%) patients, nonunion was in 1/(2.6%), severe impingement in 3/(7.9%)cases, Adhesive capsulitis was noted in 2/(5.2%) individuals and in 01(2.6%) cases implant was failed, while no Iatrogenic palsy of radial nerve was noted in any cases. Hospital stay period ranged from 1 to7 days, and majority of cases were discharged between 1-4 days, while only one cases was found more than 7 days of the hospital stay. Conclusion: The intramedullary nail is the best treatment option for the fracture of humerus, with very low rate of complication and can be learnt easily.