Volume 6 - Issue 18 (2026-09-20)

Incidence and Outcome of the Radial Nerve Injury following Open Fracture of the Humerus

1- Dr: Ammar A. Ibrahium

2- Dr: Ahmed M. Abd elHai

1- Orthopedic Consultant

Suadia Arabia Ministry of Health Estern Region Khafji General Hospital

2- Assistant professor of orthopaedic and Spinal surgery

University of Khartoum Faculty of Medicine

Background:  Radial nerve injury associated with humeral shaft fracture is an important injury pattern among trauma patients. It is the most common peripheral nerve injury associated with this fracture. Injuries to the radial nerve can result in significant motor impairment of the arm and the wrist with the loss of wrist extension. The ability to grasp is significantly reduced leading to a serious handicap. The prevalence of radial nerve lesions after open humeral fractures lies between 9 to 18%. Most commonly, radial nerve injuries are associated with middle third spiral humeral shaft fracture.

This study will provide data about the incidence and severity of radial nerve injury following open fracture of the humerus, it is pattern and outcome.

The rate of radial nerve injury following open fracture of the humerus is increasing in Sudan and much of them are due to gunshotinjury. There are no accurate records; however this is the first attempt to evaluate the condition and the outcome of management.

Objectives: To evaluate the incidence pattern and outcome of the radial nerve injury following open fracture of the humerus and also to compare the finding of this study with international findings.

Material and methods: Multicentres retrospective descriptive study include { Military hospital, Khartoum Teaching hospital ,El rabiat University hospital, Khartoum north Teaching hospital ,Omdurman Teaching hospital }.The study included all patients with radial nerve injuries following open fracture of the humerus from both genders during the period from June 2009 to June 2013. The data collected from the patients records. The collected data were processed using SPSS computer package.