Background: Humeral shaft fractures account for 1% to 3% of all fractures and approximately 20% of all
fracture involving the humerus. The prevalence of non-union for diaphyseal humeral fractures has been
reported as 1% to 10% after non-surgical and 10% to 15% after surgical management. Various devices used
in treatment of humeral diaphyseal non-union are limited contact dynamic compression plates, locking
compression plate (LCP), wave plates, humerus interlocking nail (IMN), Ilizarov external fixators and bone
graft struts.
Case Description: A 68-year-old man reported a humeral shaft fracture on the left side, due to a simple fall.
It was reduced and fixed by IMN. He underwent clinical and radiological follow up. Three months after the
intervention, due to persistent pain and impaired function of the left shoulder, the nail was removed and a
cemented endoprosthesis was implanted. 3 years later, unsatisfied with the results, he came to our attention
and was diagnosed an atrophic non-union in the site of the previous humeral shaft fracture. Moreover, the
exams showed a rotator cuff insufficiency. It was decided to perform a single-stage intervention to achieve
two goals: cure the humeral shaft non-union and restore the function of the left shoulder. The cemented
endoprosthesis was removed, followed by an extensive curettage of the non-union site. A reverse prosthesis
was implanted, with an extra-long stem used to stabilize the non-union site, as it was an IMN. An allograft
was harvested from a cadaver femur and fixed with two metal cerclages. The patient underwent clinical and
radiological follow-up. Complete healing was achieved 8 months later.
Conclusion: Humeral shaft nonunion still represent a pathology that pose a serious problem to the surgeon.
A correct management should include an accurate pre-operative planning, to achieve the best result possible
for the patient.
The modified anterolateral approach to the humerus
