Rotational alignment of humerus after closed locked nailing.

OBJECTIVE

Rotational malalignment that may happen during closed nailing of humeral fractures is, to date, an unexplored area of investigation. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of arm position during surgery on humeral rotational alignment and the effect of this alignment on shoulder motion and function.

METHODS

Thirty patients with eventual fracture healing after closed humeral locked nailing were retrospectively studied: 15 had retrograde nailing; 15, antegrade. Retrograde nailing was performed with the patient in a decubitus position and with the upper arm anteriorly flexed and the forearm perpendicular to the operating table. Antegrade nailing was performed with the patient in a semisitting position and with the upper arm in the so-called resting position. The humeral retroversion angle as measured by computed tomographic scan, range of shoulder rotation, and Neer score of the shoulder for the fractured and the intact humeri were determined, and the discrepancy (i.e., value for the intact subtracted from that for the fractured) between the two was noted. To test the effect on alignment of positioning during retrograde nailing, we similarly determined retroversion angles for another 15 patients treated in a supine resting position.

RESULTS

Between antegrade nailing and retrograde nailing in decubitus position, there was a significant difference in the mean discrepancies for the retroversion angles and the range of external rotation of the shoulder in the neutral and abduction positions, but no significant difference for internal rotation of the shoulder and Neer score. Between antegrade nailing and retrograde nailing in supine resting position, there was no significant difference in the mean discrepancy for the retroversion angle.

CONCLUSION

Positioning of the arm may significantly affect humeral rotational alignment and range of motion during closed nailing. Until a reliable method for intraoperative measurement of humeral rotation is devised, we recommend that closed nailing of humeral shaft fractures be performed with the patient's upper arm in the resting position shown in this study.