Advertisement
Paper| Volume 23, ISSUE 5, P323-326, 1992

Download started.

Ok

Electrotherapy and the management of minimally displaced fracture of the neck of the humerus

      This paper is only available as a PDF. To read, Please Download here.

      Abstract

      A poor outcome arising from a minimally displaced fracture of the neck of the humerus may be the result of a contracture of the capsule of the glenohumoral joint. Pulsed high frequency electromagnetic energy (PHFE) is an electrotherapy to reduce pain and swelling and to enhance healing. If PHFE is effective, early mobilization of the injured shoulder will be possible, reducing the risk of joint capsule contracture. We therefore conducted a double-blind trial of PHFE in minimally displaced fractures of the neck of the humerus. Early physiotherapy produced an excellent outcome in all cases. The functional outcome depended on age rather than time of starting treatment, although a relationship was found between the time of starting treatment and the duration of therapy required. The use of PHFE did not improve the result further.
      To read this article in full you will need to make a payment

      Purchase one-time access:

      Academic & Personal: 24 hour online accessCorporate R&D Professionals: 24 hour online access
      One-time access price info
      • For academic or personal research use, select 'Academic and Personal'
      • For corporate R&D use, select 'Corporate R&D Professionals'

      Subscribe:

      Subscribe to Injury
      Already a print subscriber? Claim online access
      Already an online subscriber? Sign in
      Institutional Access: Sign in to ScienceDirect

      References

        • Barclay V.
        • Collier R.J.
        • Jones A.
        Treatment of various hand injuries by pulsed electromagnetic energy (Diapulse).
        Physiotherapy. 1983; 69: 186
        • Barker A.T.
        • Barlow P.S.
        • Porter J.
        • et al.
        A double blind clinical trial of low powered short wave therapy in the treatment of soft tissue injury.
        Physiotherapy. 1985; 71: 500
        • Bentall H.
        • Eckstein F.
        A trial involving the use of pulsed electromagnetic therapy on children undergoing orchidopexy.
        Kinderchir. 1975; 17: 380
        • Bertoft E.S.
        • Lundh I.
        • Ringqvist I.
        Physiotherapy after fracture of the proximal end of the humerus. Comparison between two methods.
        Scand. J. Rehab. Med. 1985; 16: 11
        • Binder S.A.
        Applications of low and high voltage electrotherapeutic currents in electrotherapy.
        in: Wolf S.L. Electrotherapy. Churchill Livingstone, London1981: 1
        • Braun G.S.
        Pulsed electromagnetic energy: a new therapeutic modality in podiatry. Six month clinical evaluation.
        J. Am. Podiatr. Med. Assoc. 1965; 55: 700
        • Brostrom F.
        Early mobilization of fractures of the upper end of the humerus.
        Arch. Surg. 1943; 46: 614
        • Cadwell J.A.
        • Smith J.
        Treatment of unimpacted fracture of the surgical neck of the humerus.
        Am. J. Surg. 1936; 13: 141
        • Clifford P.C.
        Fractures of the neck of the humerus: A review of the late results.
        Injury. 1980; 12: 91
        • Golden J.H.
        • Broadbent N.R.G.
        • Nancarrow J.D.
        • et al.
        The effects of diapulse on healing wounds: A double blind randomized clinical trial in man.
        Br. J. Plast. Surg. 1981; 34: 267
        • Haynes C.
        Pulsed high frequency energy — Its place in physiotherapy.
        Physiotherapy. 1984; 70: 459
        • Horak J.
        • Nisson B.E.
        Epidemiology of fracture of the upper end of the humerus.
        Clin. Orthop. 1975; 112: 250
        • Kaplan E.G.
        • Weinstock R.E.
        Clinical evaluation of diapulse as adjunctive therapy following foot surgery.
        J. Am. Podiatr. Med. Assoc. 1964; 58: 218
        • Kristiansen B.
        • Barford G.
        • Bredesen J.
        • et al.
        Epidemiology of proximal humeral fractures.
        Acta Orthop. Scand. 1987; 58: 75
        • Lundberg B.J.
        • Svenungson-Hartwig E.
        • Wilmark R.
        Independent exercises versus physiotherapy in nondisplaced proximal humeral fractures.
        Scand. J. Rehabil. Med. 1979; 11: 133
        • Maitland G.
        Peripheral Mobilizations. Butterworths, London1980
        • Nagelschmidt K.F.
        Specific effects of high frequency currents and magnotherapy.
        Br. J. Phys. Med. 1940; ]November: 201
        • Neer C.
        Displaced proximal humeral fractures part 1: Classification and evaluation.
        J. Bone Joint Surg. 1970; 52A: 1077
        • Oliver D.E.
        Pulsed electromagnetic energy — What is it?.
        Physiotherapy. 1984; 70: 458
        • Steinberg M.D.
        Diapulse in general podiatry practice. A preliminary report.
        J. Am. Podiatr. Med. Assoc. 1964; 54: 849
        • Wagstaff P.
        • Wagstaff S.
        • Downey M.
        A pilot study to compare the efficacy of continuous and pulsed magnetic energy (short wave diathermy) on the relief of low back pain.
        Physiotherapy. 1986; 72: 563
        • Wallace W.A.
        The dynamics of shoulder movement.
        in: Bayley I. Kessel L. Shoulder Surgery. Springer-Verlag, Berlin1982: 139
        • Wilson D.H.
        Treatment of soft tissue injury by pulsed electrical energy.
        Br. Med. J. 1972; ii: 269
        • Young T.B.
        • Wallace W.A.
        Conservative treatment of fractures and fracture-dislocations of the upper end of the humerus.
        J. Bone Joint Surg. 1985; 67B: 373