Tension band fixation for difficult upper humeral fractures

ABSTRACT

The Study included 12 cases of fracture of the proximal part of the humerus Pathological fracture with a gap following chronic osteomyelitis 2 children, nonunion after gunshort injury 3, old displaced fracture of the neck of the humerus 7. Their age was 6 - 45 years, mean 25.4 years. They were all treated using the tension band principle with wiring and intramedullary nail or Kirschner wires. Using Neer's functional criteria the results were excellent in 6, satisfactory in 4, and unsatisfactory in 2. Solid union took place in 11 cases; the 12th had weak union and avascular necrosis of the humeral head. Non-infected cases united in 4 - 6 weeks, and infected cases of osteomyelitis and gunshot injuries in 6 - 8 months