Axillary nerve elongation in humeral fracture plating: A cadaveric study for comparison between straight and helical Philos plates.

UNLABELLED: Helical plating is a known concept in humeral fracture treatment. Attention should be paid to the axillary nerve when inserting a plate underneath the deltoid muscle. The purpose of this cadaveric study was to estimate axillary nerve stretching when introducing the plate.

METHODS

On 42 fresh frozen human humeri, an 8-, 10- and 12-hole Philos plate in a straight and a helical shape were compared measuring the maximum plate-bone-distance.

RESULTS

For all three plate lengths, the helical plates had a significantly lower plate-bone-distance.

CONCLUSION

Indirectly, this suggests a lower axillary nerve elongation and hence less chance of nerve damage.