Treatment of diaphyseal humeral fractures with the minimally invasive percutaneous plate (MIPPO) technique: a cadaveric study and clinical results.

Objectives: To assess the clinical, functional and radiologic results of the minimally invasive percutaneous plate technique in the humerus. Design: Retrospective study. Setting: University-affiliated hospital center. Patients/Participants: Eighty-six skeletally mature patients with humeral diaphyseal fractures requiring surgical stabilization. Intervention: Treatment with locking compression plates using the minimally invasive percutaneous plate technique. Main Outcome Measurements: Cadaveric study: distance between the plate and the neurovascular structures. Clinical outcome measurements included fracture healing, radial nerve palsy, infection, and elbow and shoulder discomfort. Radiographic measurements were time to healing, alignment, and nonunion. Results: The minimum follow-up in all cases was 12 months, and all fractures except three healed. The main complications found were nonunion (three) and transitory radial nerve palsy (three). The patients recovered almost complete elbow and shoulder range of motion with 98% presenting good results; no patient had implant failure. Conclusions: The results obtained with this technique are encouraging. The technique was associated with no shoulder pain and an almost complete restitution of strength and articular range of motion. Within 6 months, 96% of the patients returned to their normal activities.