Nonunion after intramedullary nailing of humeral shaft fractures.
OBJECTIVE
To assess results of exchange nailing in nonunion after intramedullary (IM) nailing of humeral shaft fractures.


METHODS
This was a retrospective study; 24 patients with nonunion after IM nailing of humeral shaft fractures were reviewed. In 13 cases, nonunion was treated using exchange nailing, and 11 patients were treated nonoperatively. Union was assessed from radiographs. Shoulder joint symptoms and function were assessed after a mean 4.7 years' follow-up using Constant-Murley scoring and self-administered questionnaires devised by L'Insalata et al.


RESULTS
Single or repeated exchange nailing resulted in union in 6 of 13 patients. Shoulder joint function was satisfactory (mean Constant-Murley score of 72) for those patients whose fracture eventually united and poor (mean Constant-Murley score of 39) for those left with nonunion.


CONCLUSIONS
Exchange nailing results in a poor union rate in nonunion after IM nailing of humeral shaft fractures. Permanent nonunion of the humeral shaft leaves the patient with severe disability.
Department of Surgery, Division of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, University Hospital, Oulu, Finland. Tapio.Flinkkila@oulu.fi
T
T
Flinkkilä
J
J
Ristiniemi
M
M
Hämäläinen
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D017102:Fracture Healing; D005599:Fractures, Ununited / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D006810:Humeral Fractures / Q000145:classification / Q000601:surgery*; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome