External causes and treatment of aseptic humeral shaft nonunion after intramedullary nailing
CHENG Chao
CHANG Bao-sheng
SONG Jian-hua
CAO Qiang
ZHOU Yu-hu
DANG Lu
FENG Peng
Abstract：Objective To discusses the reliability and safety of anterior augmentation plating without removing nails for aseptic humeral shaft nonunion. Methods A total of 56 patients, with aseptic humeral shaft nonunion after intramedullary nailing, underwent anterior augmentation plating in our hospital from January 2010 to December 2015. The mean age was 52 years old. Forty-five patients were fixed with anterograde nails and 11 patients with retrograde nails. Atrophic nonunion occurred in 51 patients and hypertrophic nonunion occurred in 5 patients. Anterior debridement and augmentation plating without nail removal were conducted. All patients were followed up till the union was confirmed by radiology examination. Results Union was achieved in 55 patients ( 98.2% ) at the mean follow-up of 6 months. One patient with iatrogenic median nerve palsy recovered 6 weeks postoperatively. One patient with peri-implant stress fracture recovered after exchanging the plate to bridge the fracture site and the nonunion site. No infections or wounding healing complications were observed. All patients had no shoulder or elbow motion restrictions in daily life. Conclusions Anterior augmentation plating is reliable and safe for humeral shaft nonunion after intramedullary nailing, and it can be chosen as an alternative treatment.
Keywords：Humeral fracturesIntramedullaryAnterior augmentation plating
Publication Date：2017-01-01
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-15(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：6( 792-797 )