[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-443702-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":80,"doc-detail-443702-en":130},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":73,"head_meta":75,"extra_data":77,"updated_unix":79},105,"en","rope-traction-techniques-in-the-management-of-humeral-shaft-fractures-a-systematic-review-and-meta-analysis-of-functional-and-radiological-outcomes","Rope Traction Techniques in the Management of Humeral Shaft Fractures - A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Functional and Radiological Outcomes","","Rope traction remains a traditional conservative method for managing humeral shaft fractures, yet functional and radiological efficacy compared with modern approaches is insufficiently consolidated. A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed using PRISMA 2020, searching PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane Library up to October 2025 for adult rope traction or hanging arm cast studies. Five studies (n=469) were included, with a pooled union rate of 94.5% (95% CI 91.3-97.1) and low-to-moderate heterogeneity.",{"@graph":14,"@context":72},[15,34,55],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/research-report/","Research & Report",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/rope-traction-techniques-in-the-management-of-humeral-shaft-fractures-a-systematic-review-and-meta-analysis-of-functional-and-radiological-outcomes/443702/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/rope-traction-techniques-in-the-management-of-humeral-shaft-fractures-a-systematic-review-and-meta-analysis-of-functional-and-radiological-outcomes/443702.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":42,"@type":43},"\tCallum ","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-01","2026-09-29",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":26},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",{"@type":56,"mainEntity":57},"FAQPage",[58,64,68],{"name":59,"@type":60,"acceptedAnswer":61},"What was the objective of the systematic review and meta-analysis?","Question",{"text":62,"@type":63},"To evaluate functional and radiological outcomes of rope traction techniques for humeral shaft fractures, including range of motion, pain, union, and alignment restoration.","Answer",{"name":65,"@type":60,"acceptedAnswer":66},"Which studies and databases were searched?",{"text":67,"@type":63},"Databases searched were PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane Library up to October 2025 for adult studies reporting rope traction or hanging arm cast outcomes.",{"name":69,"@type":60,"acceptedAnswer":70},"What union rate and radiological findings were reported in the pooled analysis?",{"text":71,"@type":63},"The pooled union rate was 94.5% (95% CI 91.3-97.1). Radiographs were reported as showing early callus formation, preserved alignment, and negligible malunion.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":74,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":76,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":78,"site_id":7},443702,1790885223,{"code":4,"msg":81,"data":82},"success",[83,87,91,95,100,105,110,114,119,122,126],{"id":22,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":84,"show_sort_weight":85,"slug":86},"Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":26,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":88,"show_sort_weight":89,"slug":90},"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":33,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":92,"show_sort_weight":93,"slug":94},"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":96,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":97,"show_sort_weight":98,"slug":99},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":101,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":102,"show_sort_weight":103,"slug":104},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":106,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":107,"show_sort_weight":108,"slug":109},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":111,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":112,"slug":113},8,30,"research-report",{"id":115,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":116,"show_sort_weight":117,"slug":118},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":117,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":120,"show_sort_weight":117,"slug":121},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":123,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":124,"show_sort_weight":123,"slug":125},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":127,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":128,"show_sort_weight":96,"slug":129},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":81,"data":131},{"doc_id":78,"user_id":132,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":133,"doc_module":4,"category_id":111,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":134,"file_id":135,"file_url":136,"file_type":137,"file_size":138,"view_count":26,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":106,"language":139,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":140,"faqs":141,"seo_title":142,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":143,"read_time":144},137451211410,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/avatar/2000bb0a9246f588df?x-image-process=image/resize,m_fixed,w_180,h_180&k=1786362646172706240","Review began 11/07/2025  \nReview ended 12/04/2025  \nPublished 12/07/2025  \n© Copyright 2025  \nAhmed et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License CC-BY 4.0. , which permits unrestricted use , distribution , and reproduction in any medium , provided the original author and source are credited.  \nDOI: 10.7759/cureus.98611  \nOpen Access Review Article  \nRope Traction Techniques in the Management of Humeral Shaft Fractures: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Functional and Radiological Outcomes  \nRana Ahmed 1, Ibrahim Altayar 2, Ahmed A. Ali 3, Abdul Mueed Shaikh 4, Shenouda R. Shehata Abdelmesih 5 , Shashwat Shetty 6, Nipa Barai 7, Mohammed Abutalib Elmobark Gafar 8, Shahmeen Rasul 9,  \nAbdullah Khan 10  \n1. Emergency, The Hillingdon Hospital NHS Trust, London, GBR 2. Orthopedics, Fakeeh University Hospital, Dubai, ARE 3. Emergency, Mubarak Al Kabeer Hospital, Jabriya, KWT 4. Orthopaedics, Liaquat National Hospital, Karachi, PAK 5. Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Royal Gwent Hospital, Gwent, GBR 6. Orthopaedics, Hillingdon Hospital, Uxbridge, GBR 7. Neurosurgery, Tairunnessa Memorial Medical College and Hospital, Dhaka, BGD 8. General Surgery, University of EI imam EI Mahdi, Kosti, SDN 9. Trauma and Orthopaedics, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton (UHDB), Burton-on-Trent, GBR 10. General Medicine, Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Rahim Yar Khan, PAK  \nCorresponding author: Ahmed A. Ali, [ahmedatefali1997@gmail.com](ahmedatefali1997@gmail.com)  \nAbstract  \nRope traction remains a traditional conservative method for managing humeral shaft fractures. However, comprehensive evidence regarding its functional and radiological efficacy compared with modern methods is limited. To evaluate the functional and radiological outcomes of rope traction techniques in humeral shaft fractures, a systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines. Databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Library) were searched up to October 2025 for studies reporting outcomes of rope traction or hanging arm cast in adults. Pooled union rates were calculated using a random-effects model with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) . Five studies (n = 469) were included. The pooled union rate was 94.5%(95% CI:  \n91.3-97. 1%) with low-to-moderate heterogeneity (Q = 7.42, p = 0 .19, I² = 32%) . Over 80% of patients achieved a full or near-full range of motion, and radiographs showed early callus formation, preserved alignment, and negligible malunion. Rope traction techniques achieve high union rates and excellent functional recovery, representing a safe, cost-effective alternative for patients where surgical fixation is contraindicated or unavailable.  \nCategories: Trauma, Orthopedics  \nKeywords: conservative management, functional outcome, hanging arm cast, humeral shaft fracture, radiological healing, rope traction  \nIntroduction And Background  \nHumeral shaft fractures constitute approximately 3-5% of all long-bone fractures in adults and often result from low-energy trauma, such as falls, or high-energy mechanisms like road traffic accidents [1] . The primary objectives in managing these fractures are to achieve anatomical alignment, ensure fracture union, and restore optimal upper limb function while minimizing complications. Effective treatment strategies are essential to prevent long-term disability and improve patient outcomes. Historically, rope traction techniques, also known as hanging-arm or gravity-assisted traction, have been employed as a conservative management strategy for humeral shaft fractures [2] .  \nThis method involves suspending the injured arm using weights or gravity to maintain longitudinal alignment, reduce displacement, and promote fracture healing. These techniques were widely adopted before the advent of modern surgical fixation methods and remain relevant in selected case","cbCaioNQ6OCEfGzo","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaioNQ6OCEfGzo","pdf",1014924,"English","# Review\n## Materials and methods\n## Review Design","[{\"question\":\"What was the objective of the systematic review and meta-analysis?\",\"answer\":\"To evaluate functional and radiological outcomes of rope traction techniques for humeral shaft fractures, including range of motion, pain, union, and alignment restoration.\"},{\"question\":\"Which studies and databases were searched?\",\"answer\":\"Databases searched were PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane Library up to October 2025 for adult studies reporting rope traction or hanging arm cast outcomes.\"},{\"question\":\"What union rate and radiological findings were reported in the pooled analysis?\",\"answer\":\"The pooled union rate was 94.5% (95% CI 91.3-97.1). Radiographs were reported as showing early callus formation, preserved alignment, and negligible malunion.\"}]","Rope Traction Techniques in the Management of Humeral Shaft Fractures - A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Functional and Radiological Outcomes | PDF",1790705041,18]