Outcome of plating, bone grafting and shortening of non-union humeral diaphyseal fracture.
BACKGROUND
Humeral diaphyseal fracture usually heals with closed methods but when non union develops then it needs surgical intervention in the form of plating and bone grafting, intramedulary nailing (open or closed simple or interlocking nails) and external fixators (circular or one plane fixator). In our unit we treated non union humeral diaphyseal fracture with plating and bone grafting and shortening of fracture ends up to 4 to 5 cm when needed.


METHODS
This study was conducted at Orthopaedic Department of Ayub Teaching Hospital Abbottabad from January 2002 till December 2003. We included 15 cases with atrophic non-union in 9 (60%) and hypertrophic non-union in 6 (40%) patients. All atrophic non-union were treated with plating, bone shortening by transverse osteotomy and bone grafting, while hypertrophic non-union were treated with decortications of non-union ends and fixation with compression plates, with bone grafting in old age. Follow up measures were based on clinical (range of joints motion) and radiological (healing) findings. Follow up was done for up to 6 months.


RESULTS
Out of 15 patients the age range was 20-80 years, 12 (80%) were male and 03 (20%) female. Right humerus involved in 5 (33.33%) while left humerus in 10 (66.66%) patients. In 9 (60%) patients with atrophic non union bone shortening by transverse cut osteotomy was done while in remaining patients with hypertrophic non-union plating was done in 2 (13.33%) cases and plating with bone grafting in 4 (26.66%) patients. Union was achieved in all patients after 16 to 20 weeks of surgery. In one patient (6.66%) of 75 years age with hypertrophic non-union implant was loosened after 03 months of surgery. At that time healing (Union) was evident on X-rays and humeral brace was applied for further 03 months. Two patients (13.33%) got neuropraxia of radial nerve which resolved with in 3 months time. 02 patients (13.33%) developed shoulder stiffness which resolved after exercise.


CONCLUSIONS
In Non Union of Humerus shortening by transverse osteotomy & rigid fixation with plates give excellent results in selected cases.
Khan
Mohammad Shoaib
MS
Department of Orthopaedics, Ayub Medical College & Hospital Abbottabad, Pakistan. drmohammadshoaib@yahoo.com
Sahibzada
Ahmed Sohail
AS
Khan
Mohammad Ayaz
MA
Sultan
Shahid
S
Younas
Mohammed
M
Khan
Alam Zeb
AZ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001860:Bone Plates; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D005260:Female; D005599:Fractures, Ununited / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D006810:Humeral Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome