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Delayed Treatment of Persistent Radial Nerve Paralysis Associated with Fractures of the Middle Third of Humerus: Review and Evaluation of the Long-Term Results of 52 Cases

From the Department of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, University of Turin, Italy, Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery, Hospital of Legnano Milan, Italy and Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Hospital of Legnano Milan, Italy

Correspondence: Dr. Maurizio Verga, Department of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, University of Turin, Via Leone XIIIo no. 3, 20023 Cerro Maggiore, Milano, Italy. Tel.: +393292111905; fax: +390116335924. E-mail:maurizioverga{at}yahoo.it

This study was undertaken to determine the efficacy of delayed surgical treatment in cases of persistent radial nerve paralysis after fractures of the middle third of the humerus. We have limited this study to patients who had absolutely no functional recovery of the radial nerve 3 to 4 months after middle third humeral fractures. The fractures were treated by a variety of orthopaedic methods, conservative and surgical, in other departments and hospitals. Surgical exploration of the radial nerve was carried out 3 to 4 months after primary orthopaedic treatment. The outcome of this study concurs with data in the literature in showing that delayed nerve surgery (neurolysis or nerve grafts) in the absence of functional recovery of the radial nerve after humeral fracture can be useful in achieving good functional recovery and subjectively satisfying results.

Key Words: radial nerve paralysis • humeral fracture • neurolysis • nerve grafts • nerve surgery • humerus

Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume), Vol. 32, No. 5, 529-533 (2007)
DOI: 10.1016/J.JHSE.2007.02.206


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