Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37322263›Full record

ArticleEuropean journal of orthopaedic surgery & traumatology : orthopedie traumatologie2023

Surgical management of distal humerus gunshot fractures: descriptive case series.

Ntambue Kauta, Alasdair Bott, Edgar Tafadzwa Majirija, Jean Pierre Du Plessis, Basil Vrettos, Sithombo Maqungo, Stephen Roche

Open access · hybridAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in European journal of orthopaedic surgery & traumatology : orthopedie traumatologie, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
0.9field-weighted citation impact, top 25% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 4 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Clinical and radiological outcomes of callus preservation versus excision in gunshot-related distal humerus fractures.Ulusal travma ve acil cerrahi dergisi = Turkish journal of trauma & emergency surgery : TJTES · 2026
    Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.

Ntambue Kauta, Cape Town, South Africa.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7099-2506
Alasdair BottSouthmead Hospital, Bristol, BS10 6NB, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3990-6219
Edgar Tafadzwa MajirijaGroote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. docmajirija@yahoo.co.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1334-4980
Jean Pierre Du PlessisSomerset Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6469-7765
Basil VrettosVincent Pallotti Private Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4226-0794
Sithombo MaqungoGroote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8735-8341
Stephen RocheGroote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5695-2751
University of Cape Town · ZASomerset Hospital · ZASouthmead Hospital · GB

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThe purpose of this study was to report our 5 years surgical experience and the rate of neurovascular injury following gunshot fractures of the distal humerus in a in level-1 Trauma Centre in South Africa.

methodsA retrospective case series of 25 consecutive adult gunshot injuries to the distal humerus. Demographic and injury data were extracted from clinical case notes and electronic operative records. Imaging archives were used to classify fractures according to the AO/OTA classification.

resultsTwenty-five male patients, with mean age of 32-years-old, sustained gunshot injuries to the distal humerus. Eleven patients had multiple gunshots. Forty-four percent of patients underwent Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA), 20% had confirmed brachial artery injury. Limbs with vascular injury were salvaged with arterial repair and external fixation. Fractures were extra-articular in 20 cases (80%). Nineteen fractures were classified as highly comminuted. Nerve injuries occurred in 52% and were all managed expectantly. Only 32% of patients attended follow-up beyond 3 months.

conclusionsThese are rare challenging injuries with high rates of neurovascular damage. This demographic of patients is poorly compliant with follow up highlighting the need for high-quality early care. Brachial artery injury should be excluded with CTA and can be managed with arterial repair and external fixation. All fractures in this series were surgically managed with conventional anatomical plate and screw fixation techniques. For nerve injury, we advocate expectant management. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

Indexed as

Humeral FracturesHumeral Fractures, DistalVascular System InjuriesAdultBone PlatesFracture Fixation, InternalHumansHumerusMaleRadiographyRetrospective StudiesTreatment OutcomeDistal humerus fractureGunshot InjuryNerve injuryVascular injury

Identifiers

PMID37322263
PMCPMC10651556
OpenAlexW4380870240

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.