Humeral shaft fractures in adults: management and evaluation of treatment in 50 cases

Background: The management of humeral shaft fractures is a real challenge in our regions. Methods: This was a prospective, descriptive single-center study involving 50 patients meeting our inclusion criteriaof colorectal carcinoma analysing incidence, clinicopathological features and outcome after different therapies including surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Results: We enrolled 50 patients, 43 men (86%) and 7 women (14%), with a sex ratio of 3.07. Mean age was 32.3 years, with extremes of 18 and 79 years. The left side was affected in 46 cases (92%). Lesions were predominantly located in the middle 1/3 in 39 cases (78%). Treatment was orthopedic in 30 patients (60%). Surgical treatment was performed in 20 patients (40%), with screw-plate predominating in 14 cases (28%), followed by hackethal pinning in 5 cases (10%) and combined treatment in one case (2%). At six months' follow-up, our results were very good and good in 36 cases (72%) according to the modified Stewart and Hundley functional score. Conclusions: Humeral shaft fractures are rare fractures for which orthopedic treatment is still indicated. Complications include radial nerve paralysis and pseudarthrosis.