Sarmiento functional bracing

Functional bracing for the treatment of fractures of the humeral diaphysis

Sarmiento A, Zagorski JB, Zych GA, et al. The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume 2000 · PMID 10761938 · doi:10.2106/00004623-200004000-00003

Question

What union rates and outcomes follow functional bracing of humeral shaft fractures?

Design

Large case series of patients treated with a prefabricated functional brace.

Patients

Patients with closed and open diaphyseal humeral fractures treated with functional bracing.

Intervention

Functional (Sarmiento) brace

Comparison

None

Primary outcome

Union and residual angulation

Key result

The large majority of fractures united with bracing, with non-union uncommon and residual angulation usually functionally and cosmetically acceptable.

Limitations

Uncontrolled case series with about a third lost to follow-up and little long-term follow-up, which may overstate success.

Impact on practice

Established functional bracing as the standard initial treatment for most isolated humeral shaft fractures.