The Role of Postoperative Care in Humeral Shaft Fractures

If there is no callus on radiographs and gross motion at the fracture site at 6 weeks from injury, this has a 90-100% positive predictive value of going on to non-union in closed humeral shaft fractures. Regarding malunion, various angulation is common but rarely has functional or cosmetic sequelae. And lastly, regarding radial nerve palsy, this is seen in 8-15% of closed fractures and has an increased incidence in distal 1-3 fractures with an incidence of 22%. Neuropraxia of the radial nerve is the most common injury in closed fractures, while neurotomesis is the mostcommon in open fractures.