Acute Management of Humeral Shaft Fractures: Sling vs. Splint

Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Fracture of Shaft of Humerus

Treatments: Device: Coaptation Splint; Device: Sling and Swathe

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01869322

IRB00009456

Details and patient eligibility

About

When people break their arm and arrive at Oregon Health and Science University's Emergency Department (OHSU ED), they are treated with a short-term means of immobilizing their broken arm. The two most common ways of stabilizing the broken parts of the arm are 1) with a plaster-based coaptation splint, or 2) with a soft cloth sling and swathe. These hold the arm steady until the patient can schedule an appointment with the OHSU Orthopaedic Trauma clinic where they will receive definitive evaluation and stabilization/fixation. In much of the orthopaedic literature coaptation splints are the default immobilization method. The investigators hypothesize however, that sling and swathe immobilization may be equally effective for short term stabilization, while being faster to apply, and more comfortable for the patient. This randomized, unblinded prospective study will follow the satisfaction, quality of life and limited functional outcomes of all enrolled participants during the first week following their injury.

Enrollment: 24 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 80 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• age 18-80
• acute midshaft humeral fracture within 48 hours

Exclusion criteria

• ED presentation more than 48 hours after injury
• Head injury
• Open fracture
• Pathological fracture
• Known pregnancy
• Inmate or prisoner
• Non-English speaking
• Sexual Assault (SA) victim
• Patient and Legally Authorized Representative unable to provide consent

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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24 participants in 2 patient groups

Sling and Swathe

Experimental group

Description:

In this arm, study subjects will receive sling and swathe immobilization for humeral shaft fracture.

Treatment:

Device: Sling and Swathe

Coaptation Splint

Active Comparator group

Description:

In this arm participants receive a coaptation splint for humeral shaft fracture.

Treatment:

Device: Coaptation Splint