title: Good results with unreamed nail and bone grafting for humeral nonunion: a retrospective study of 21 patients.
abstract: 21 patients with humeral shaft nonunions were treated by retrograde nailing with the unreamed humeral nail. In all cases, we reamed the fracture site and performed a bone graft. Union of the fracture occurred in every case. The mean healing time was 4.2 (4-6) months. The range of motion of the shoulder and elbow was excellent in 14 patients, that of the shoulder moderate in 6 and poor in 1, and that of the elbow moderate in 7. The functional results were excellent in 13 patients, good in 5 and fair in 3. Given the good functional results in this series, retr grade locked nailing and bone grafting appears to be a good method for treating humeral shaft nonunions.
authors.affiliation: Service of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Miguel Servet University Hospital, Zaragoza, Spain. anmarti@wanadoo.es
authors.forename: Angel A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Herrera
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cuenca
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001858:Bone Nails; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D005260:Female; D005599:Fractures, Ununited / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D006810:Humeral Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome