title: Operative management of humeral nonunions. Factors that influence the outcome.
abstract: The purpose of this study is to present the outcome of surgically treated humeral nonunions and find factors that affect the outcome. Forty-two patients with humeral nonunions (30 shaft, 7 proximal and 5 distal) were reviewed in a prospective manner. Treatment was based on a specific algorithm. Demographics, time to union, range of motion, functional outcome and complications were recorded and analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean follow-up was 78 months and mean time to union was 4.3 months. Infection was associated with delayed union of the pseudarthrosis, while range of motion was negatively affected by the location (proximal) and the AO type of the initial fracture. Complication rate was 17%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The surgical management of humeral nonunions yields a favourable outcome with reduced rate of complications. Infection prolonged healing time, while proximal location of the nonunion and the type B or C fracture according to AO/OTA classification adversely affected range of motion.
authors.forename: Antonios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koutalos
authors.forename: Sokratis
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Varitimidis
authors.forename: Zoe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Dailiana
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bargiotas
authors.forename: Alexandros
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koutsogiannis
authors.forename: Konstantinos N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Malizos
mesh_terms: D001860:Bone Plates; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods*; D005599:Fractures, Ununited / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006810:Humeral Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D015994:Incidence; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013997:Time Factors