Humeral Shaft Fracture With an Intact Wedge Fragment: Mipo vs Conventional Plating

Abstract

Objectives: Evaluate bone healing time, consolidation, and the complication rate between the minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis and open reduction with plate osteosynthesis in humeral diaphyseal fractures with an intact wedge (AO 12B2). Methods: A retrospective study was carried out between 2016 and 2020. The medical records and radiographs of 18 patients were analyzed, and data were collected regarding the time of consolidation, age, sex, plate size, number of screws, complications such as iatrogenic injury damage to the radial nerve, material failure, and postoperative infection. Results: No statistically significant differences were observed in the variables of age, sex, plate size, and number of screws used or in the RUSHU index (Radiographic Union Score for Humeral fractures). There were no postoperative infections, material failure, or need for reoperation, nor cases of secondary radial nerve injury. After one year, all patients had a consolidation index analyzed by RUSHU >11. Conclusion: both techniques showed similar results, with a high consolidation rate and low rates of complications or iatrogenic damage to the radial nerve. Evidence level III; Retrospective comparative study .