Medial minimally invasive percutaneous plate osteosynthesis for humeral shaft fractures: a case series and novel technique description

IntroductionMinimally Invasive Percutaneous Plate Osteosynthesis (MIPPO) is increasingly favored for treating humeral shaft fractures (HSFs). However, conventional MIPPO techniques pose challenges in fixing fractures near fossa olecranon and carry a risk of iatrogenic radial nerve palsy. A novel technique using a medial MIPPO for treating humeral shaft fractures (HSFs) is described. Results of clinical follow-up are presented.Materials and methodsThis study is a retrospective case series study. Twenty-one patients (mean age 43.9 & PLUSMN; 17.66 [22-81] years) with HSFs were treated with the novel MIPPO fixation method. Clinical outcomes including time for radiographic consolidation, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score, and complications were assessed at the last follow-up. The mean follow-up was 26 & PLUSMN; 17.12 (range 12-67) months.ResultsAll patients had a bony union at a mean of 15.76 & PLUSMN; 6.74 (range 8-40) weeks based on X-ray with an early and aggressive range of motion. The complication rate was 0. The mean DASH score was3.29 & PLUSMN; 4.09 (range 0-14.17) at the time of the last follow-up. The mean screw density was 0.49 & PLUSMN; 0.1 (range 0.2-0.65).ConclusionThis novel surgical technique for HSFs is a viable alternative to previously described methods with the advantage of being less prone to nerve injury and easy to fix distal extra-articular HSFs. The learning curve is short.