Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38770447›Full record

ArticleCureus2024

Comparing the Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes of Humeral Shaft Fractures by Treatment Type.

Chrystina L James, Jager Haan, Susan G Wager, Yash Hegde, Trevor D Wolterink, Stephanie Muh

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cureus, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Revisiting the debate on operativeWorld journal of orthopedics · 2025
    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

6 authors.

Chrystina L JamesDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, USA.
Jager HaanDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, East Lansing, USA.
Susan G WagerDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, USA.
Yash HegdeDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, East Lansing, USA.
Trevor D WolterinkDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, USA.
Stephanie MuhDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeHumeral shaft fractures are common orthopedic injuries, representing 1-5% of all fractures. There is conflicting literature regarding the superiority of operative versus nonoperative treatment of these fractures. The purpose of this study was to examine functional outcomes and time to radiographic union in humeral shaft fractures with the hypothesis that both would be improved in patients treated operatively relative to those treated nonoperatively.

methodsThis retrospective cohort study examined patients with humeral shaft fractures treated at a single large healthcare system between 2010 and 2020. A chart and radiograph review were performed to collect information on demographics, fracture, treatment, and outcome information. These measures were compared between patients treated operatively and nonoperatively.

resultsFive hundred seventeen adult patients meeting inclusion criteria were identified; 233 were treated nonoperatively, and 284 were treated operatively. The mean patient age was 50.2 years in those who underwent surgery relative to 59.9 years in those treated without surgery (P<0.001). Operatively-treated patients had significantly faster time to radiographic union at a median of 113 days compared to a median of 161 days in nonoperatively-treated patients (P=0.001). The operative group was made weight-bearing as tolerated significantly faster than the nonoperative group (84 days versus 98 days, respectively, P=0.002). No statistically significant difference was seen between the two treatment groups in rates of complications or range of motion at the time of radiographic union. However, patients who underwent surgery were found to be up to two times more likely to achieve full shoulder forward elevation by the time of their final follow-up than those treated without surgery (P=0.011).

conclusionPatients with humeral shaft fractures treated operatively have faster time to union, earlier weight bearing, and no change in the rate of complications compared to patients treated nonoperatively.

Indexed as

fracturehumeral shafthumerusnonoperativeoperative

Identifiers

PMID38770447
PMCPMC11105806

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Registered trials

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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.