[The treatment of humeral shaft fractures. Results of a prospective AO multicenter study].

This prospective multicenter study conducted by the German section of the AO International analyzes 302 fractures of the humeral shaft, 170 (56%) of which were operated upon and 132 (44%), treated conservatively. Among those operated upon, 3.5% developed infections and 10% showed paresis of the radial nerve. In contrast, the only complication in the group treated conservatively was pseudarthrosis, in 1 case. However, further analysis revealed that complications were distributed unequally among the centers and the most complications were reported from only a few hospitals. We were able to contact 173 (57%) patients for follow-up. Results of operative and conservative treatment were compared for similar fractures. Both techniques resulted in predominantly good to excellent results. The somewhat inferior results in the group operated upon were explained by the higher percentage of associated local injuries and concomitant injuries to other organs. The results of this study were compared with those of other recent studies, and recommendations were established for the operative and conservative treatment of fractures of the humeral shaft.