There are many methods to treat the humeral shaft fracture. Various types of hulneral shaft fracture in multiple trauma patients were treated by intrarnedullary stabilization with Rush nail.
We reviewed twenty two patients who were treated with Rush nail in Masan Samsung Hospital from August. 1990 to May.1995. The purpose of this study is to report the results and kilow whether Rush nailing is recommendable in multiple trauma patients.
The results virere as follows:
1. The most common type of fracture was comminuted with large displaced fragment type (11 cases,47.8%), most common site was distal one third of shaft(10 cases,43.5%).
2. The average operation time was about 40 minutes.
3. The average time of radiological bone union was about 14 weeks.
4. Complications were 5 cases of mild joint stiffness (2 cases in shoulder and 3 cases in elbow),5 cases of nonunion, 5 cases of angulation deformity(average 7 degree) and 2 cases of nail migration.
We had satisfactory functional outcome rated by Stewart and Hundly. In spite of some complication, we think that Rush nailing can be applied safely and effectively to humeral shaft fractures associated with multiple injury.