II. Signs
- Evaluate for Radial Nerve injury
- Wrist Drop
- Finger extension weakness
- Supination weakness
- Radial Nerve decreased sensation (e.g. Two Point Discrimination)
III. Management: Manipulative reduction with local anesthetic
- Pitfalls
- Avoid distraction of Fracture fragments
- Patient positioning
- Patient sits on stool, leaning forward
- Support wrist to overcome apprehension
- Elbow should hang free at 90 degrees flexion
- Reduction Technique
- Weight of arm alone may reduce Fracture
- Gentle traction downward at wrist
- Countertraction with a sling around axilla
- Assistant holds axilla sling and thumb
- Confirm end-to-end apposition
- Apply upward pressure on elbow
- Telescoping Humerus indicates apposition not secure
IV. Management: Splint Immobilization
V. Prognosis
- Heals in 8 to 10 weeks
- Heals well with closed reduction (non-operative)
VI. Complications
-
Radial Nerve Injury (20% of Humeral Fractures)
- Travels along spiral groove, in close contact with humeral shaft
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| Concepts | Injury or Poisoning (T037) |
| ICD10 | S42.3 |
| SnomedCT | 208289009, 157208007, 50890004 |
| German | Fraktur des Humerusschaftes |
| Korean | 위팔뼈 몸통의 골절 |
| English | fracture of shaft of humerus, humerus shaft fracture, fracture humerus of shaft, shaft humerus fracture, fracture humerus shaft, shaft of humerus fracture, fracture of humerus shaft, fracture of humerus shaft (diagnosis), Fracture of shaft of humerus, Fracture of shaft of humerus (disorder), fracture; humerus, shaft, humerus; fracture, shaft |
| Spanish | fractura de diáfisis de húmero (trastorno), fractura de la diáfisis del húmero, fractura de diáfisis de húmero, fractura de la diáfisis del húmero (trastorno) |
| Dutch | fractuur; humerus, schacht, humerus; fractuur, schacht, Fractuur van schacht van humerus |
