Humeral shaft fractures

Abstract

Humeral shaft fractures in skeletally immature patients are usually managed with immobilization, even for displaced fractures, as this area has great remodeling potential in patients with greater than 2 years of growth remaining. The wide range of motion from the shoulder joint can easily accommodate a mild malunion without functional loss. Akin to the controversy between nonoperative and operative management in the adult literature, some favor operative intervention in those patients approaching skeletal maturity, but the vast majority of patients can be treated nonoperatively.