Conservative Treatment Versus the Surgical Treatment of Diaphyseal Fractures of Humerus

Diaphyseal Fractures of the Humerus: A Prospective Cohort Study Comparing the Conservative Treatment and the Surgical Treatment.

The fracture of the humeral diaphysis is a condition that represents 2% of all fractures. The conservative treatment of diaphyseal fractures of the humerus has long been considered the only option and the surgical treatment was primarily reserved for displaced fractures with no contact of bone ends. However, for a few years there has been an upsurge of indications for the surgical treatment of diaphyseal fractures.

The purpose of this study is to compare the functional outcomes and the quality of life of surgically treated patients versus those who undergo a conservative treatment.

Study Overview

• Status: Terminated
• Conditions: Humeral Diaphysis Fracture
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: Plate and screws or nailing; Device: Hanging Support System (HSS) brace

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 4
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Canada
  • Quebec, Canada, G1J 1Z4
    • Hopital L'Enfant-Jesus
  • Quebec
    • Québec, Quebec, Canada, G1J 1Z4
      • CHA-Pavillon Enfant-Jésus

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male or female over 18 years
• Fracture of the humeral diaphysis
• Recent fracture (14 days or less)
• Closed fracture
• Signing of consent form

Exclusion Criteria:

• Segmental fracture of the humerus
• Fracture with proximal or distal intra articular extension
• Open fracture
• Polytrauma
• Floating elbow or shoulder
• Pathological fracture
• Simultaneous fracture of both humerus
• Associated vascular disease
• Severe neuromuscular disorders such as Parkinson, hemiparesis, myasthenia gravis, muscular dystrophy, etc. ...
• medical contraindication to surgery
• severe central neurological disease disabling patient to fill in questionnaires (senile dementia, Alzheimer's, etc ...
• Male or female unable to consent
• Any other condition which prevents the assessor from fully monitoring the patient during study

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Non-Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Surgical treatment; Patients included in the surgical group will have surgery to treat the fracture.	Procedure: Plate and screws or nailing; Patients included in the surgical group will be divided into two subgroups according to the method of fixation chosen: plate and screws or nailing. Surgeries take place under general anesthesia and a prophylaxis antibiotic is administrated. The installation and the approach will be chosen by the surgeon according to his preferences. A thoraco brachial brace is placed on the patient at the end of the intervention and it remains in place for a period of 5 to 10 days (patient comfort). A gradual mobilization of the elbow and shoulder will be initiated by the patient at home. The addition of physical therapy will be decided by the surgeon and noted down accordingly.
Active Comparator: Conservative treatment group; Patients included in the conservative group will be taken to a plaster room where a Hanging Support System(HSS) brace will be installed by a qualified technician.	Device: Hanging Support System (HSS) brace; Patients included in the conservative group will be taken to a plaster room where the HSS brace will be installed by a qualified technician. Advice will be provided for the care, personal hygiene and clothing. The brace will be kept for a period of 6 to 12 weeks depending on the degree of healing of fracture. The maintenance of the proximal part (Brace) may be recommended by the surgeon. The mobilization will begin with exercises at home and whether the patient does physical therapy or not is the surgeon's choice.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Function and quality of life on DASH scale	The function and quality of life are measured using the DASH scale six months after treatment.	6 months after treatment

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
DASH score	The function and quality of life are measured using the DASH scale 6 months after treatment.	6 months after treatment
Return to professional activities	It will be determined in days after surgery, to rates of 50% and 100% of the usual workload.	3 months after treatment
SF-36 score	This score will help validate the impact on quality of life of both types of treatment. It includes 36 items asking about the recent quality of life. This will also enable better understanding of the impact in real time on the functional level.	6 months after treatment
DASH score	The function and quality of life are measured using the DASH scale 12 months after treatment.	12 months after treatment
SF-36 score	This score will help validate the impact on quality of life of both types of treatment. It includes 36 items asking about the recent quality of life. This will also enable better understanding of the impact in real time on the functional level.	12 months after treatment
Proportion of additional surgeries	The evaluation of the rate of complications such as infection, implant removal, non-union, implant failure or malunion which necessitate additional surgery.	12 months after surgery
Radiological loss of reduction	The main observed displacements occur in varus and are measured on an AP view of the humerus. Initial displacements are tolerated up to 20 degrees in varus and in flexion. We measure the proportion of patients who experienced worsening of the deformity of more than 5 degrees on both levels.	2 weeks after treatment
Radiological loss of reduction	The main observed displacements occur in varus and are measured on an AP view of the humerus. Initial displacements are tolerated up to 20 degrees in varus and in flexion. We measure the proportion of patients who experienced worsening of the deformity of more than 5 degrees on both levels.	6 weeks after treatment
Radiological loss of reduction	The main observed displacements occur in varus and are measured on an AP view of the humerus. Initial displacements are tolerated up to 20 degrees in varus and in flexion. We measure the proportion of patients who experienced worsening of the deformity of more than 5 degrees on both levels.	12 weeks after treatment
Radiological loss of reduction	The main observed displacements occur in varus and are measured on an AP view of the humerus. Initial displacements are tolerated up to 20 degrees in varus and in flexion. We measure the proportion of patients who experienced worsening of the deformity of more than 5 degrees on both levels.	6 months after treatment
Union rate	The union is defined by the presence of a strong radiological callus associated with lack of pain at the fracture site. The humerus unifies in an average of three months. It is considered non-union if it is not unified after six months, and it is classified as delayed union between 3 and 6 months. The rates will be presented by the number of patients with non-union in each group.	12 weeks after treatment
Union rate	The union is defined by the presence of a strong radiological callus associated with lack of pain at the fracture site. The humerus unifies in an average of three months. It is considered non-union if it is not unified after six months, and it is classified as delayed union between 3 and 6 months. The rates will be presented by the number of patients with non-union in each group.	6 months after treatment
Rates of complication	The main complications recognized in the treatment of humerus fractures are: infection, nerve damage, malunion and non-unions. Each complication will be recorded and reported.	within the first year following treatment
Pain on visual analogue pain scale (VAS)	The measure will be carried out using a suitable rule designed for this type of measurement, counting only full of numbers 1 to 10.	2 weeks after treatment
Pain on VAS	The measure will be carried out using a suitable rule designed for this type of measurement, counting only full of numbers 1 to 10.	6 weeks after treatment
Pain on VAS	The measure will be carried out using a suitable rule designed for this type of measurement, counting only full of numbers 1 to 10.	12 weeks after treatment
Pain on VAS	The measure will be carried out using a suitable rule designed for this type of measurement, counting only full of numbers 1 to 10.	6 months after treatment
Pain on VAS	The measure will be carried out using a suitable rule designed for this type of measurement, counting only full of numbers 1 to 10.	12 months after treatment
Measurement of range of motion of the shoulder	Using a goniometer, we will measure the bending (normal value 180 °), abduction (180°), external rotation in the scapular plane (90 °) and internal rotation in the plane scapula (60°).	2 weeks after treatment
Measurement of range of motion of the shoulder	Using a goniometer, we will measure the bending (normal value 180 °), abduction (180°), external rotation in the scapular plane (90 °) and internal rotation in the plane scapula (60°).	6 weeks after treatment
Measurement of range of motion of the shoulder	Using a goniometer, we will measure the bending (normal value 180 °), abduction (180°), external rotation in the scapular plane (90 °) and internal rotation in the plane scapula (60°).	12 weeks after treatment
Measurement of range of motion of the shoulder	Using a goniometer, we will measure the bending (normal value 180 °), abduction (180°), external rotation in the scapular plane (90 °) and internal rotation in the plane scapula (60°).	6 months after treatment
Measurement of range of motion of the shoulder	Using a goniometer, we will measure the bending (normal value 180 °), abduction (180°), external rotation in the scapular plane (90 °) and internal rotation in the plane scapula (60°).	12 months after treatment
Measurement of range of motion of the elbow	Using a goniometer, we will measure the bending (normal value 140 °), extension (normal value 0 °), pronation (normal value 80 °) and supination (normal value 80 °).	2 weeks after treatment
Measurement of range of motion of the elbow	Using a goniometer, we will measure the bending (normal value 140 °), extension (normal value 0 °), pronation (normal value 80 °) and supination (normal value 80 °).	6 weeks after treatment
Measurement of range of motion of the elbow	Using a goniometer, we will measure the bending (normal value 140 °), extension (normal value 0 °), pronation (normal value 80 °) and supination (normal value 80 °).	12 weeks after treatment
Measurement of range of motion of the elbow	Using a goniometer, we will measure the bending (normal value 140 °), extension (normal value 0 °), pronation (normal value 80 °) and supination (normal value 80 °).	6 months after treatment
Measurement of range of motion of the elbow	Using a goniometer, we will measure the bending (normal value 140 °), extension (normal value 0 °), pronation (normal value 80 °) and supination (normal value 80 °).	12 months after treatment

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Hopital de l'Enfant-Jesus
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Stéphane Pelet, MD, PhD, Hôpital de l'Enfant-Jésus

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: January 1, 2010
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): December 1, 2012
• Study Completion (Anticipated): July 1, 2014

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 3, 2010
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 3, 2010
• First Posted (Estimate): May 5, 2010

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): December 20, 2012
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 19, 2012
• Last Verified: December 1, 2012

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: humeral diaphysis fracture; plate and screws for humeral diaphysis fracture; nailing for humerus diaphysis fracture; Hanging Support System
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Wounds and Injuries; Fractures, Bone
• Other Study ID Numbers: PEJ-530