[Evaluation of patients with humeral midshaft fractures treated with DCP plate vs. intramedullary nail UHN].

Background: Humeral midshaft fractures should be surgically managed, so the knowledge of functionality, bone healing and pain of these treatments is required to obtain the expected results. The aim of this paper is to compare the results of patients with humeral midshaft fracture operated with intramedullary nails UHN vs. DCP plate.

Methods: Comparative study, conducted during the period of June 2014 to June 2015, in patients with humeral midshaft fracture, incidents, operated with intramedullary nails UHN vs. DCP plate. Pain, functional and radiographic assessment were conducted by Andersen, UCLA and simple X ray test, respectively.

Results: There were 40 patients, 57.5% with DCP plate, 67.5% male, mean age was 42.38 years, mean operative time was 73.3 minutes, side affected 50% right, 87% had complete consolidation with DCP plate against 70.6% of the patients treated with intramedullary nails UHN. Radiographic consolidation was good for both treatments, functionality and pain patients had presented no statistically significant differences in both groups (p ≥ 0.05). Complications are in the range described worldwide for both treatments.

Conclusions: Both treatments are effective for humeral diaphyseal lesions, however should be cautious and try to avoid the complications that can be serious is recommended.