Clinical study was made on 71 cases of fractures of the humeral shaft treated at the Orthopedic Department of the 77th. Army Hospital during the past 4 years, from 1964 to 1967. Following observations were made.
1. There were 31 cases (43.7%) of gun shot wounds, 26 cases (36.6 %) of traffic accidents, 12 cases (16.9%) of falling and stumbling and 2 cases of other causes
2. 26 cases involved the upper one third of the shaft, 22 cases the middle one third and 23 cases the
lower one third. 51 cases (71.8%) were on the left side and 20 cases (28.2%) were on the right side. 3. There were 39 cases of communited fractures, 19 cases of transuerse. fractures and 13 cases of oblique
or spiral Lactures.
4. In 7 of the cases there were associated Lactures innobring other bones.
S. In 47 cases (66.2%) there was enough displacement to require reduction. Closed reduction was done in 29 cases and open reduction in 12 cases. 7 cases were treated by skeletal traction while no reduction was required in the remaining 23 cases.
´6. Fractures were united in 8 weeks in 26 cases, in 15 weeks in 32 cases, and in more than 15 wks. in 12 cases. No cases of nonunion was encountered in this series.
7. cases (26.6%) healed with residnal functional disabilities of various nature and degree.
S. Radial palsy, was present in 10 cases (14%). 8 of which was associated with fractures of the lower one third of the shaft.
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