Treatment of delayed union of humeral shaft fractures by interlocking nailing

ABSTRACT

Fifteen patients [nine males and six females with a mean age of 43 years] with delayed union of humeral fractures were treated by interlocking nail. The time delay between injury and operation ranged from 3.5 and 4.5 months with a mean of 4 months. Three patients had proximal fracture, 8 had middle third and 4 had distal third fractures. Antegrade nailing was done in 4 patients, while retrograde nailing was fine in 11 patients. Only 4 cases needed open reduction and iliac cancellous bone grafting, 2 of them had also primary radial nerve palsy. The mean period of follow up was 9.66 months and the mean period of healing was 5.8 months. The results, evaluated according to the criteria of Rommens et al. [1999], were excellent in 12 patients, good in one patient, fair in one patient and poor in one patient. The primary radial nerve palsy improved after neurolysis during surgery and the nerve function recovered gradually during follow up