title: Use of the coventry infant hip screw in the treatment of nonunion of fractures of the distal humerus.
abstract: Between 1993 and 2000 we treated 14 patients with nonunion of fractures of the distal humerus; 11 had already had previous fixation which had failed. The mean time to surgery was 21 months after injury. All the fractures were very low which made it difficult to obtain a firm hold of the small distal fragment. The problem of fixation was addressed by inserting a Coventry infant hip screw into the humeral condyles. The screw has a thread of wide diameter which gives excellent purchase on the small distal fragment. The condyles can then be compressed on to the humeral shaft using a 4.5 mm narrow tibial dynamic plate. Of these 14 difficult cases of nonunion, 12 progressed to union.
authors.affiliation: The Rowley Bristow Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma, St Peter's Hospital, Chertsey, Surrey, England, UK.
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Simonis
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Nuñez
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khaleel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001863:Bone Screws; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D017102:Fracture Healing; D005599:Fractures, Ununited / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D006810:Humeral Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography