Two-Plate Fixation for Humeral Shaft Nonunions

Purpose. To review 22 patients who underwent 2-plate fixation for non-union of the humeral shaft. Methods. 13 women and 9 men aged 32 to 76 (mean, 48) years underwent fixation for non-union of the humeral shaft, using a 2-plate construct, together with decortication, debridement, and bone grafting. The two 3.5-mm reconstruction plates were parallel and lying at 90° to each other and fixed with screws purchasing into at least 6 cortices of each fragment for both plates. Fractures were located in the upper third (n=8) or middle third (n=14) of the humerus. Initial treatments included casting (n=9), coaptation splinting (n=8), multiple retrograde pinning (n=4), and Marchetti-Vicenzi nailing (n=1). 18 non-unions were atrophic and 4 were hypertrophic. Shoulder and elbow range of motion as well as functional results were evaluated. Results. The time for union was 4.6 (range, 4–6) months. No implants were loose or broken. No nonunion or infection was noted. Functional results were excellent in 17 and good in 5 patients. One patient had iatrogenic radial nerve palsy that recovered within 3 months. Conclusion. Two-plate fixation achieves good results for humeral shaft non-unions.

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Complications in humeral shaft fractures – non-union, iatrogenic radial nerve palsy, and postoperative infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis

EFORT Open Reviews ◽

10.1530/eor-21-0097 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 95-108

Author(s):

Maria Anna Smolle ◽

Sandra Bösmüller ◽

Paul Puchwein ◽

Martin Ornig ◽

Andreas Leithner ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Radial Nerve ◽

Nerve Palsy ◽

Posterior Approach ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Humeral Shaft ◽

Radial Nerve Palsy ◽

Non Union ◽

Humeral Shaft Fractures ◽

Shaft Fractures

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess risk for iatrogenic radial nerve palsy (iRNP), non-union, and post-operative infection in humeral shaft fractures. A PubMed search including original articles comparing different treatments for humeral shaft fractures published since January 2000 was performed. Random effect models with relative risks (RR) and 95% CIs were calculated for treatment groups and outcomes. Of the 841 results, 43 studies were included in the meta-analysis (11 level II, 5 level III, 27 level IV). Twenty-seven compared intramedullary nailing (IM) with ORIF, nine conservative with operative treatment, four ORIF with minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO), and three anterior/anterolateral with posterior approach. iRNP risk was higher for ORIF vs IM (18 studies; RR: 1.80; P = 0.047), ORIF vs MIPO (4 studies; RR: 5.60; P = 0.011), and posterior vs anterior/anterolateral approach (3 studies; RR: 2.68; P = 0.005). Non-union risk was lower for operative vs conservative therapy (six studies; RR: 0.37; P < 0.001), but not significantly different between ORIF and IM (21 studies; RR: 1.00; P = 0.997), or approaches (two studies; RR: 0.36; P = 0.369). Post-operative infection risk was higher for ORIF vs IM (14 studies; RR: 1.84; P = 0.004) but not different between approaches (2 studies; RR: 0.95; P = 0.960). Surgery appears to be the method of choice when aiming to secure bony union, albeit risk for iRNP has to be considered, particularly in case of ORIF vs IM or MIPO, and posterior approach. Due to the limited number of randomised studies, evidence on the best treatment option remains moderate, though.

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Radial nerve palsy associated with humeral shaft fracture. Is the energy of trauma a prognostic factor?

Yearbook of Hand and Upper Limb Surgery ◽

10.1016/j.yhls.2012.04.086 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2012 ◽

pp. 167-168

Author(s):

F.T.D. Kaplan

Keyword(s):

Prognostic Factor ◽

Radial Nerve ◽

Nerve Palsy ◽

Shaft Fracture ◽

Humeral Shaft Fracture ◽

Humeral Shaft ◽

Radial Nerve Palsy

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Locking compression plate in humeral shaft nonunion: a retrospective study of 18 cases

International Journal of Research in Orthopaedics ◽

10.18203/issn.2455-4510.intjresorthop20162822 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 2 (3) ◽

pp. 86

Author(s):

Rajesh Govindasamy ◽

Ramkumar Gnanasundaram ◽

Saravanan Kasirajan ◽

Fawas Thonikadavath ◽

Jeff Walter Rajadurai

Keyword(s):

Bone Grafting ◽

Locking Compression Plate ◽

Humeral Shaft ◽

Radial Nerve Palsy ◽

Functional Evaluation ◽

Postoperative Function ◽

Non Union ◽

Humeral Shaft Nonunion ◽

Compression Plate ◽

The Mean

Background: Humeral shaft nonunions are frequently seen in Orthopaedic practice. Osteosynthesis with bone grafting is the treatment of choice. Locking compression plate (LCP) is the latest implant used in treating them. We retrospectively evaluated the outcome of use of LCP in humeral shaft non-union resulted by both conservative management and following failed internal fixations.Methods: Eighteen patients with nonunion of humeral shaft in which ten were treated by traditional bone setters and eight followed by failed internal fixation were included in these study. The mean duration of nonunion was 18.3 months (range 8-22). The mean follow up period was 18 months (range 12-26). The mean age of patients was 44.4 years (range 22-60). All patients underwent osteosynthesis with LCP and autologoous cortico-cancellous iliac crest graft. The outcome measures include radiographic assessment of fracture union and preoperative and postoperative function using modified constant and murley scoring system.Results: All fractures united following osteosyntesis average time for union was15 weeks (range 10-24). We did not have any delayed union or non-union. The complications were superficial infection (n=1) and wound haematoma (n=1).Three patients with preoperative radial nerve palsy recovered at the end of four months. Functional evaluation using constant-murley score showed excellent result in 14, good in 3 and fair in 1. We did not have any poor results.Conclusions: LCP with cancellous bone grafting is a safe reliable option for all forms of humeral shaft nonunion. We recommend it.

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Humeral shaft fracture associated with radial nerve palsy -a case report

Journal of Innovations in Applied Pharmaceutical Science (JIAPS) ◽

10.37022/jiaps.v6i3.251 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 54-55

Author(s):

Rishitha M ◽

Akasha Sindhu M

Keyword(s):

Radial Nerve ◽

Nerve Palsy ◽

Wrist Joint ◽

Shaft Fracture ◽

Humeral Shaft Fracture ◽

Humeral Shaft ◽

Radial Nerve Palsy ◽

Loss Of Function ◽

History Of ◽

The Right

Radial nerve palsy was induced by radial nerve compression, which was often caused by humerus bone fracture. This leads to pain, weakness, or loss of function mostly in the wrist, hand, and fingers. We reported a case of a 24-year-old male patient with complaints of swelling of the right-hand wrist joint and pain during extension and flexion while moving. He had a three-month history of mild displaced humeral shaft fracture from a traffic accident and an intramedullary Ender nailing was performed. He now has been admitted with swelling in his right wrist joint and pain while moving his hand. The case was diagnosed as Radial nerve palsy. Surgery was performed, the proximal and distal ends of the radial nerve were separated at the humeral bone's surface. The radial nerve stumps were enough long to be sutured. Our one-month follow-up shows no complications. The majority cases of radial nerve palsy will resolve within a few weeks after surgery, as our patient did, and the most prominent is patient education.

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