Results of surgical treatment of nonunion of humeral shaft fracture with dynamic compression plate and cancellous bone grafting.
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the treatment of nonunion of humeral shaft fracture with dynamic compression plate from January 2002 to December 2009.


METHODS
Twenty-two patients were treated over the study period. Trauma was the predominant cause of injury in 86.4% of the patients.


RESULTS
Nonunion was atrophic in 81.8% and hypertrophic in 18.2% of the individuals. There was a primary injury of the radial nerve in 27.3% of the patients. All the participants had closed fracture at presentation, and 81.2% had received previous treatment from traditional bone setters and 18.8% had failure of the conservative cast management. The average time to healing was 16 weeks. Previous treatment from traditional bone setters significantly affected the time to fracture healing (p<0.05). All fractures had successful union.


CONCLUSIONS
It was concluded that dynamic compression plating remains an effective treatment option for nonunion of humeral shaft fracture. Level of Evidence III, Retrospective study.
Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology - Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria.
Olasinde Anthony
OA
Ayotunde
Department of Surgery Ladoke Akintola, University Teaching Hospital, Osogo Osum State Hospital, Nigeria.
Oluwadiya Kehinde
OK
Sunday
Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology - Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria.
Adetan
A
Oluwatoyin
Royal Victoria Hospital Castries, St Lucia, Nigeria.
Ogunlusi Johnson
OJ
Dare
Bone regeneration; Fracture fixation, internal; Humeral fractures/surgery; Humeral fractures/therapy