Treatment of delayed union and non-union of humeral shaft fractures using humeral locked nails

ABSTRACT

To assess the results and clinical outcome of treating humeral shaft delayed union and non-union using locked medullary nails. 21 cases of humeral shaft delayed union and non-union were treated by Russel and Taylor humeral locking nail at Al Razi hospital in the period from 1997 to 2001. 8 cases had delayed union and 13 had non-union. 13 cases had previous operative treatment while 8 cases had non-operative treatment. Antegrade nailing was done in all cases and all nails were fixed statically. 19 cases had their fractures united. Only 2 cases had persistent non-union. 18 cases had satisfactory shoulder function and 3 cases had loss of shoulder abduction between 40 and 65 degrees. The humeral locked nails can achieve satisfactory clinical results in treating humeral shaft delayed unions and non-unions