Antegrade locked intramedullary nailing in humeral shaft fractures.
Thirty-three humeral nailings were carried out using the Russell-Taylor nail. Twenty-two acute fractures and one non-union united, gave an overall union rate of 70%. Eighteen patients (56%) experienced pain in the shoulder or at the fracture site. Thirteen patients (41%) had poor shoulder function. Only 17 (51%) of the patients were satisfied with the outcome. Fourteen patients (42%) needed further surgery. We conclude that antegrade intamedullary nailing of humeral shaft fractures leads to a substantial risk of non-union and impairment of shoulder function. There was no significant correlation between fracture comminution and fracture healing in our study.
Ajmal
M
M
St Vincents University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. drmajmal@yahoo.co.uk
O'Sullivan
M
M
McCabe
J
J
Curtin
W
W
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001858:Bone Nails; D005260:Female; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000379:methods*; D017102:Fracture Healing; D006801:Humans; D006810:Humeral Fractures / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D006811:Humerus / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012086:Reoperation