Radial nerve transection associated with closed humeral shaft fractures: a report of two cases and review of the literature

Acute Radial Nerve Repair with Humeral Shaft Shortening and Fixation Following a Closed Humeral Shaft Fracture: A Case Report

CASE

A 65-year-old woman sustained a closed segmental humeral shaft fracture with a complete radial nerve palsy. Radial nerve neurotmesis was found during acute surgical exploration and fixation. Treatment included a 2-cm shortening osteotomy of the humeral shaft and osteosynthesis in order to obtain a tension-free primary end-to-end repair of the radial nerve.

CONCLUSION

Tension-free primary nerve repair can be technically challenging with humeral shaft fractures. A shortening osteotomy of the humeral shaft and osteosynthesis are feasible to achieve tension-free neurorrhaphy without nerve-grafting.