Treatment of humeral shaft nonunions: nailing versus plating.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to compare plating and nailing for treating nonunions of the upper two-thirds of the humerus.


METHODS
Fifty nonunions of the upper two-thirds of the humerus were treated by two different methods: 24 of them by unreamed locked nailing and bone graft (group A), and the other 26 by plate fixation and bone grafting (group B).


RESULTS
All fractures healed in both groups. In group A, the time required for healing was 4.2 months (range 4-6 months), whereas in group B it was 4.7 months (range 4-6 months). This difference was statistically significant ( p<0.05). Functional results and the range of motion of the shoulder and elbow were similar with both techniques. In group B there were 3 cases of transient, iatrogenic, radial nerve palsy.


CONCLUSIONS
We feel that both plate fixation and the unreamed humeral locked nail are good alternatives for the treatment of humeral shaft nonunions, although nailing achieves union earlier and has fewer complications.
Martínez
Angel A
AA
Service of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Miguel Servet University Hospital, Zaragoza, Spain. anmarti@wanadoo.es
Cuenca
Jorge
J
Herrera
Antonio
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001858:Bone Nails; D001860:Bone Plates; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000502:physiology; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005599:Fractures, Ununited / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D006810:Humeral Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000502:physiology