Inadequate proximal screw fixation increases risk of failure following plate fixation of diaphyseal humerus fractures

Table 4 Rate of aseptic mechanical failure vs no failure with by ≥ 8 cortices of distal fixation and fracture location

Fracture location	Group	≥ 8 Cortices proximal fixation		p value
Fracture location	Group	Yes (%)	No (%)	p value
Proximal 1/3	Mechanical failure No mechanical failure	0 (0) 2 (40)	1 (100) 3 (60)	1.0
Middle 1/3	Mechanical failure No mechanical failure	3 (43) 34 (68)	4 (57) 16 (32)	0.226
Distal 1/3	Mechanical failure No mechanical failure	1 (33) 16 (94)	2 (67) 1 (6)	0.046*

Bold value is statistically significant
p Value derived from Fisher’s Exact Test, p < 0.05*
Comparison of rate of aseptic mechanical failure versus no failure distal fixation (≥ 8 cortices) and fracture location using Fisher’s Exact Test. The table shows higher rates of mechanical failure when distal fixation had less than < 8 cortices; specifically, when the fracture was in the distal 1/3 humerus (p = 0.046). Whereas, fractures that were located in the proximal 1/3 and middle 1/3 of the humerus did not appear to be affected by number of screws in the distal fixation (p > 0.05)

ISSN: 1749-799X