The Ilizarov Method in the treatment of pseudoarthrosis of the humerus.
Background. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Ilizarov method in the treatment of pseudoarthrosis of the humerus. Material and methods. Twenty patients ranging in age from 9 to 69 were treated for humeral pseudoarthrosis (11 atrophic, 8 hypertrophic, 1 bone defect) using the Ilizarov technique. Eighteen of these patients had been treated previously using other surgical techniques. Two of them had radial nerve palsy. Twenty surgical procedures were performed (19 compression osteosyntheses, one distraction osteosynthesis). Resection of the pseudoarthrosis site and preparation of the fragment ends was necessary in 11 cases. Results. The mean time of treatment with the apparatus was 7.1 months. Bone union was achieved in 19 cases. Improvement of the range of motion of shoulder and elbow was observed in 14 cases. The main complication during treatment was superficial pin-tract infection (eight cases). Neuropraxia of the radial nerve occurred in two patients. Deviation of the humerus axis (without function disturbance) was observed in two cases. Conclusions. The Ilizarov method is a very effective and safe technique for use in the treatment of humeral pseudoarthrosis.
Sławomir
S
Zarek
Jarosław
J
Macias