[Experiences with conservative therapy of humerus shaft fractures]

A well proved method for the conservative treatment of fractures of the humeral shaft is clearly shown by words and pictures. A study of 36 own cases during the years 1985 up to 90 informs on the problems of conservative treatment of these fractures. Even if there is a perfect primary reposition, impossibility of proper retention in the plaster cast may lead to post-primary osteosyntheses (2 cases in 36). Despite correct conservative treatment there are always delayed unions in a certain percentage (6 cases in 34), which you can't recognize before 3 months after injury, but then should bring them to operative treatment. There is quite a high number of pseudarthroses (4 cases in 32). It is still unclear, which type of fracture and which type of patient is going to build up a pseudarthrosis. In conservative treatment, the most important thing is--compared to operative treatment--a very closed and carefully observing aftercare.