[Functional treatment of recent fractures of the humeral shaft using the Sarmiento method]

Functional treatment of humeral shaft recent fractures by A. Sarmiento's method was described in 1977. It is based on fixation with a plaster or plastic sleeve individually molded. This sleeve keeps free the adjacent joints, allowing an early functional rehabilitation and a fast consolidation. A 50 cases serial study from 1983 to 1987, confirms the advantages of a method which allies reasonable means, safety and complete reliability to obtain a good and rapid consolidation (one case of non-union due to a technical failure), and rapidly recovered function. We had frequently resulting axial defects: 16 patients have mal-union with more than 10 degrees of angular deformity but without any functional consequences. The advantage of this method compared to usual orthopaedic, or surgical treatments leads us to propose it to most of our patients.