Humeral shaft nonunion treated by a Seidel interlocking nail with a supplementary staple.
Thirty-two adult patients with humeral shaft nonunions were treated with Seidel interlocking nails, and 6 of these 32 patients required an added staple. The indication for inserting a staple was rotational instability, despite use of a distal spreading screw. All 6 patients with nonunions were followed for at least 1 year (median, 1.5 years), and all experienced a solid union. The union period was a median of 5 months, with a range of 3 to 7 months. No complications were noted. The author believes that all humeral shaft nonunions may be treated by a Seidel interlocking nail with or without a staple supplementation and cancellous bone graft. The technique is simple, and its results are satisfactory. Predrilling the cortices of both fragments is key to successful insertion of a staple.
Wu
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Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung Medical College, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
D000328:Adult; D001858:Bone Nails; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods*; D005599:Fractures, Ununited / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D006810:Humeral Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D017792:Surgical Stapling; D016896:Treatment Outcome