[Functional fracture treatment of the upper arm]

Using a functional brace, we treated 67 patients who had a fracture of the humeral shaft over a 5-year period from 1987 to 1992. We analysed several parameters of the fractures to discover those which influence healing. Desault, plaster cast or traction were used before applying a brace in an average time of 15 days. The osseous consolidation was 10 weeks in the average. The functional results were very good and good in 78.3%, acceptable in 18.3% and poor in 3.4% of the cases. Twelve humeral-shaft fractures were associated with a radial nerve palsy. Every patient recovered a full radial nerve function under the treatment with a functional brace. The retentive management of an operative treatment of humeral-shaft fractures associated with a nerve injury can be supported because of our experience.