Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40736753›Full record

ArticleEuropean journal of orthopaedic surgery & traumatology : orthopedie traumatologie2025

Incidence and outcomes of radial nerve palsy in distal third diaphyseal humerus fractures after surgical fixation.

Jacquelyn P Cruz, Maxwell Durtschi, Christen Chalmers, Andrew Belk, Andrea Finlay, Sandhya R Chandar, Carina L Tedesco, John Scolaro, L Henry Goodnough, Julius A Bishop and 1 more

Abstract read
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in European journal of orthopaedic surgery & traumatology : orthopedie traumatologie, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

11 authors.

Jacquelyn P CruzStanford University, Palo Alto, United States. jpcruz@stanford.edu.
Maxwell DurtschiStanford University, Palo Alto, United States.
Christen ChalmersUniversity of California, Irvine, Irvine, United States.
Andrew BelkUniversity of California, Irvine, Irvine, United States.
Andrea FinlayStanford University, Palo Alto, United States.
Sandhya R ChandarStanford University, Palo Alto, United States.
Carina L TedescoStanford University, Palo Alto, United States.
John ScolaroUniversity of California, Irvine, Irvine, United States.
L Henry GoodnoughStanford University, Palo Alto, United States.
Julius A BishopStanford University, Palo Alto, United States.
Michael J GardnerStanford University, Palo Alto, United States.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundRadial nerve palsy (RNP) is a common complication of diaphyseal humerus fractures, with primary RNP rates varying by fracture location. However, the relationship between fracture location and the risk of secondary RNP following surgical fixation remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence of postoperative RNP based on fracture location within the middle and distal thirds of the humeral diaphysis and to describe the outcomes of RNP over time.

methodsA retrospective cohort study was conducted of patients undergoing open reduction and internal fixation for middle and distal third diaphyseal humerus fractures at two Level 1 trauma centers from 2011 to 2023. Patients with proximal third fractures, pathologic fractures, or intramedullary nailing were excluded. Fracture location, surgical approach, and neurovascular outcomes were recorded. Differences between groups were analyzed using ANOVA and Fisher's exact tests.

resultsA total of 164 fractures met inclusion criteria. Postoperative RNP occurred in 8% of middle third fractures, 14% of distal third fractures, and 23% of middle-distal third fractures (p = 0.18). Preoperative RNP was significantly more common in middle-distal third fractures (38%) compared to middle third (21%) or distal third fractures (16%) (p = 0.02). At final follow-up, 49% of preoperative RNPs and 78% of postoperative RNPs had resolved, with postoperative RNPs significantly more likely to recover (p = 0.048). No significant differences in RNP resolution were observed based on fracture location.

conclusionFracture location within the middle or distal third of the humeral diaphysis was not associated with a significant difference in the incidence of postoperative radial nerve palsy following surgical fixation. Postoperative RNP demonstrated a high rate of recovery, supporting conservative management in most cases. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, Retrospective Cohort Study.

Indexed as

Fracture Fixation, InternalHumeral FracturesOpen Fracture ReductionPostoperative ComplicationsRadial NeuropathyAdultAgedDiaphysesFemaleHumansIncidenceMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesTreatment OutcomeDiaphysisHumerus fractureIatrogenicRadial nerve palsyShaft

Identifiers

PMID40736753

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
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.