Locked antegrade intramedullary nailing of humeral shaft fractures

This paper reports the results of treating 35 humeral shaft fractures with antegrade nailing in patients between the ages of 25 and 92 (mean 64.5): 14 patients were aged between 25 and 59, and 21 between 66 and 92. The nail was set in place proximally with a spiral blade and distally with 1 or 2 screws. In the first 14 cases, uncannulated humeral nailing (UHN) was carried out, and in the next 21 cannulated humeral nailing (CHN). The latter technique uses a guide wire which, in cases of an error in the length of the nail, is useful in that it allows another nail to be set in place. Main outcome parameters were fracture healing, shoulder discomfort, and radial nerve recovery. The DASH functional scoring system, modified according to Beaton et al. for subjective assessment was used, and range of motion was checked with the constant score. X-rays were used to assess fracture healing time and cases of malunion. Two patients developed non-union, one caused by a UHN which was too short, and the other by a nail blocked distally by a single screw. In 7 patients, consolidation was achieved, but with varus between 3 and 8 degrees (mean 5 degrees), without aesthetic or functional damage. In 33 out of 35 patients, shoulder functionality had mean DASH score results of 21.9, whereas shoulder range of motion reached a mean constant score (CS) of 26.5 (78.8%) with respect to the opposite shoulder. In 5 cases of stiffness, the UHN turned out to be insufficiently buried. Results improved with the CHN. Much better results were seen in the group of patients aged between 25 and 59 (mean age 43), but worse in older ones (66–92 years, mean age 78). Radial nerve palsy after surgery occurred in 2 cases, and the nerve was immediately examined. It did not appear to be trapped in the fracture in either case, and recovery was complete 6 months later. CHN appears to be a valid solution, both in younger patients, thanks to excellent results, and in older ones, who have fewer functional requirements.     

Locked nailing of spiral humeral fractures with or without radial nerve entrapment

The experience of locked nailing of spiral humeral fractures and the perioperative conditions of the radial nerve are reported. The nerve is at risk of entrapment after such a fracture, and severe injury may occur during closed nailing. Among 162 humeral fractures treated by locked nailing, there were 21 spiral fractures: 18 acute fractures, and three delayed unions. The distribution of the fractures was two at the middle and 19 at the distal (1/3). Twelve patients had preoperative radial nerve palsy. All fractures excluding one middle fracture were retrograde nailed, and all patients had radial nerve exploration. Thirteen fractures were locked statically, seven were locked distally and had cerclage wiring, and one was locked distally only. Fisher's exact tests showed that the risk of radial nerve entrapment significantly increased in fractures with varus angulation or resulting from high-energy trauma. All the patients achieved fracture union and regained satisfactory joint functions. The author suggests that in external rotational spiral humeral fractures, radial nerve exploration should be done if nerve entrapment is highly suspected, irrespective of the fracture location or nerve palsy. Locked nailing with transfixing screws or cerclage wire could be a reliable treatment method for these fractures.     

胫、股骨粉碎性骨折的带锁髓内钉固定

1998年4月～1999年9月,笔者应用有远、近端瞄准器带锁髓内钉固定胫、股骨粉碎性骨折,疗效满意。1　材料与方法1.1　病例资料　本组26例,男21例,女5例,年龄17～66岁。胫骨骨折线距上、下关节面均>4ｃｍ,共13例;股骨骨折均位于大转子下5ｃｍ以远,其中股骨干5例,股骨髁上7例,股骨干、股骨髁上多段粉碎骨折1例。ＡＯ分类〔1〕胫骨骨折Ｃ16例、Ｃ25例、Ｃ32例,股骨干骨折Ｃ13例、Ｃ22例、Ｃ31例,股骨髁上骨折Ａ36例、Ｃ12例。骨不愈合改用带锁髓内钉固定5例。1.2　治疗方法　内固定材料为武进第三医疗器械厂、Ｓｍｉｔｈ＆ＮｅｐｈｅｗＬｉｍｉｔ…     

Locked nailing of comminuted and unstable fractures of the femur

Forty comminuted or unstable fractures of the femoral shaft were treated by closed intramedullary reaming and locked nailing. Twenty-four fractures were severely comminuted, and the other 16, in the distal or proximal third of the shaft, were classified as unstable. At 12 to 30 months postoperatively all the fractures had healed. Three patients had lateral rotation deformity of 5 degrees to 10 degrees, three had shortening of 1 to 2 cm and two had lengthening of about 1 cm. There were no infections or delayed unions. Closed intramedullary locked nailing can provide stability in fractures of the femoral shaft, irrespective of the degree of comminution and the site of injury.     

有限切开复位交锁髓内钉内固定在胫骨粉碎及多段骨折中的应用

目的探讨胫骨粉碎性及多段骨折的治疗效果。方法采用有限切开复位交锁髓内钉固定治疗胫骨粉碎性及多段骨折42例，其中车祸伤27例，压砸伤11例，高处坠落伤4例。CI型31例，C2型6例，C3型5例。结果全部病例获得随访，时间6～20个月。按Johner-Wrnh胫骨骨折评分标准：优38例，良4例结论有限切开复位交锁髓内钉固定治疗胫骨粉碎性及多段骨折，在直视下争取一次复位成功，大大缩短复位时间，提高复位质量，基本不加重原创伤，对局部血供影响小，有利于骨折的修复。     

Locked nailing with interfragmentary wiring for humeral nonunions

OBJECTIVE: Locked nailing for humeral nonunions is threatened by residual fracture gap and fracture motion. This article describes the clinical experience of using interfragmentary wiring to solve these problems. METHODS: Interfragmentary wiring was used in 21 consecutive humeral nonunions treated with humeral locked nails. The average age of patients was 49.5 years, with an average nonunion duration of 14.4 months. Eighteen patients had previous operations. Nonunions were located at the proximal third in 4, the middle third in 10, and the distal third in 7. Antegrade nailing was used in 11 and retrograde nailing in 10. Sixteen nonunions were nailed with 8-mm nails and five with 7-mm nails. Interfragmentary wiring was applied to either the posterior or the lateral cortex of humeri in a figure-of-eight configuration. Bone grafting was performed in all and average follow-up time was 22 months. RESULTS: With a single operation, all patients achieved osseous union in, on average, 18.3 weeks. One patient with segmental nonunion suffered acute renal failure 4 months after operation, but fracture healing was not affected. Wire infection occurred in one patient with preoperative infection at the nail entry site and was treated by implant removal. Other complications including two transient radial nerve palsies and one brachial artery injury did not affect the final outcome. At follow-up, all but four patients had complete recovery of shoulder flexion and abduction. The average postoperative Neer score (91.1 points) was significantly better than the average preoperative score (65.5 points). All but three patients had complete recovery of elbow motion. CONCLUSION: Interfragmentary wiring, a safe procedure if properly performed, could effectively decrease the residual fracture gap and fracture motion in locked nailing of humeral nonunions. Further biomechanical studies and prospective, randomized, controlled studies are warranted.     

Fixation stability of comminuted humeral shaft fractures: locked intramedullary nailing versus plate fixation

BACKGROUND: This study compared the fixation stability of two treatments for humeral shaft fractures with segmental bone loss during cyclic, physiologic loading. METHODS: Six matched pairs of human humeri received either a 10-hole broad dynamic compression plate or a locked antegrade inserted humeral nail applied to a humeral diaphyseal osteotomy with a 1.5-cm gap defect. The bone-implant humeral constructs were axially loaded for 10,000 cycles at 250 N and 500 N, with measurements of gap displacement and calculation of construct stiffness. The specimens were then loaded to failure. RESULTS: Cyclic loading showed no difference between the two groups for average gap displacement or construct stiffness. The intramedullary nail constructs failed by humeral shaft splitting (n = 4) or head cut-out (n = 2) at an average of 958.3 N, whereas the plate constructs failed by humeral shaft splitting and screw pull-out (n = 3) or plate bending (n = 3) at an average of 641.7 N (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Although both methods offer similar fixation stability under physiologic loads, the higher load to failure demonstrated by intramedullary nail fixation may have implications for the patient with multiple injuries for whom partial weightbearing on the injured upper extremity may be necessary.     

Locked nailing of humeral shaft fractures. Experience in Edinburgh over a two-year period.

We report the results of locked Seidel nailing for 30 fractures of the humerus. There were frequent technical difficulties at operation especially with the locking mechanisms. Protrusion of the nail above the greater tuberosity occurred in 12 cases, usually due to inadequate locking, and resulted in shoulder pain and poor function. Poor shoulder function was also seen in five patients with no nail protrusion, presumably because of local rotator cuff damage during insertion. Our results suggest that considerable modifications are required to the nail, and possibly to its site of insertion, before its use can be advocated.     

肱骨髁间粉碎性骨折的治疗

[目的]探讨肱骨髁间粉碎性骨折的术式选择及疗效。[方法]2001年2月-2005年12月治疗肱骨髁间粉碎性骨折患者21例，按AO分型：C1型5例，C2型9例，C3型7例。17例患者行切开复位钢板内固定术，4例行全肘关节置换术。内固定组采用尺骨鹰嘴截骨入路，肱骨小头和肱骨滑车复位后用松质骨螺钉或空心螺钉固定，肱骨干和肱骨远端之间采用AO双钢板或“Y”钢板固定，术后早期功能锻炼；肘关节置换组采用半限制型肘关节假体、骨水泥固定，术后4-7d开始功能锻炼。[结果]内固定组17例患者中14例获12-44个月随访，关节置换组4例全部获14，36个月随访，按Cassebaum肘关节功能评分，内固定组优g4例，良：6例，优良率71．4％，关节置换组优：2例，良：2例，优良率100％。[结论]肱骨髁间粉碎性骨折采用AO技术，经尺骨鹰嘴截骨入路切开复位，双重建钢板或“Y”钢板内固定，配合早期功能锻炼，大多数患者都能获得良好的疗效。对肱骨远端严重毁损，骨质疏松明显，年龄在50岁以上的患者，可选择全肘关节置换手术，近期疗效满意。     

Locked intramedullary nailing of femoral shaft fractures

One hundred twenty-three femoral shaft fractures were treated with Grosse-Kempf slotted, locked nails and followed for a median 20 (range, 12-60) months. There were eight intraoperative and 11 postoperative complications, among them two superficial and two deep infections. Most of the intraoperative complications and some postoperatively lost reductions could have been prevented by a better operative technique and judgment of stability. Seventy-eight results were graded as excellent, 24 as good, 19 as fair, and two as poor (one 9-cm shortening and one 40 degrees external malrotation). All fractures united without further procedures during the first year.     

Locked intramedullary nailing of open tibial fractures

We report the use of Grosse-Kempf reamed intramedullary nailing in the treatment of 41 Gustilo type II and III open tibial fractures. The union times and infection rates were similar to those previously reported for similar fractures treated by external skeletal fixation, but the incidence of malunion was less and fewer required bone grafting. The role of exchange nailing is discussed and a treatment protocol is presented for the management of delayed union and nonunion.     

Treatment of severely displaced proximal humeral fractures in children with elastic stable intramedullary nailing

We report on our 8-year experience of using elastic stable intramedullary nailing for severely displaced proximal humeral fractures in children. Fourteen patients (mean age 13.4 years) with seven epiphyseal and seven metaphyseal fractures underwent intramedullary nailing, using single nail fixation in 12 cases. Clinical and radiological healing was achieved at 2.4 and 3.2 months, respectively. Complications included temporary shoulder and elbow stiffness in one and four cases, respectively, one nail breakage at removal, two cases with minor humeral shortening, and two cases with minor varus deformity. At the final (14.6-month) follow up all patients had a symptom-free full range of motion. Elastic stable intramedullary nailing is a valid method of treating severely displaced proximal humeral fractures in children.     

Intramedullary nailing of humeral shaft fractures

Summary Humeral shaft fractures can be treated either conservatively or operatively. Plating of the humerus is the established operative method, but recently interest has also been focussed on intramedullary nailing. Fifty-nine cases of humeral fractures treated with intramedullary nailing (Seidel/Marchetti-Vicenzi/Prévot) from January 1991 to December 1995 (44 fractures after trauma, 11 pathological fractures, 3 pseudarthroses, 1 re-fracture). Closed reduction in 55/59 cases. One infection (soft tissue); 2/48 pseudarthrosis (indication for nailing: pseudarthrosis!). No iatrogenic palsy of the radial nerve. Functional postoperative treatment in all 44 cases of humeral fractures after adequate trauma. One poor functional result: periarticular ossification after retrograde nailing, possibly connected with long-term respiratory treatment after trauma. Treatment of humeral shaft fractures by intramedullary nailing is favoured in our clinic (low complication rates, excellent or good functional results, limited approaches, small scars). Proximal fractures should be treated by the Seidel nail (stable interlocking of the proximal fragment); very distal fractures need Prévot nailing (reaming of condylar canals). All other fractures of the humeral shaft can be treated by each of the implants used in our clinic. Pathological fractures are an excellent indication for intramedullary stabilization. These patients benefit from stable fixation without intense surgical trauma. Pseudarthrosis, according to our limited experience, seems to require plating plus bone grafting. Plating is also recommended if revision of the radial nerve becomes necessary.      

Marchetti-Vicenzi nailing of humeral shaft fractures

Between 1995 and 1999, 46 acute nonpathological humeral shaft fractures were treated with retrograde Marchetti-Vicenzi humeral nailing. The mean healing time of all fractures was 10.8 weeks. Forty-five fractures (97.9%) united primarily, and one needed bone grafting (2.1%). Function of the shoulder was excellent in 35 patients (76.1%) and moderate in 11 (23.9%). Elbow function was also excellent in 35 patients and moderate in 11. Global functional results were excellent in 16 patients (34.8%), good in 22 (47.8%) and fair in 8 (17.4%). There were 4 cases of 10 degrees varus malunion (8.6%), one case of 15 degrees varus malunion (2.1%), and one case of 15 degrees anterior angulation malunion (2.1%). These malunions were clinically well tolerated. Four patients required removal of the nail because of posterior elbow pain. Retrograde Marchetti-Vicenzi nailing is an acceptable alternative for the treatment of acute humeral shaft fractures with a low complication rate.     

Interlocking nailing of humeral shaft fractures

In this retrospective study 48 humeral shaft fractures in 48 patients were operated on using the Seidel interlocking nail. The length of follow-up ranged from 6 to 60 months (median, 26 months). The treatment of fractures was satisfactory with the Seidel nail, but we emphasize the importance of countersinking the tip of the nail into the humeral head to avoid impingement. In 5 of 12 patients with non-unions, the procedure failed, and we found that the distal locking seemed to be inadequate. Pathological fractures (i.e., those caused by metastatic tumors) were all efficiently treated with the Seidel nail. Received for publication on Sept. 30, 1997; accepted on Feb. 2, 1998     

Intramedullary nailing of humeral shaft fractures

From 1996 until 2000 we treated 52 humeral shaft fractures with AO unreamed nailing. Mean patient age was 35.8 years and the average follow-up 29.6 months. There were 31 type A fractures, 15 type B, and 6 type C. Closed retrograde nailing was performed in 46 cases and open nailing in six. Functional results were excellent in 48 cases, moderate in three, and poor in one.     

Ender氏针加钢丝张力带治疗肱骨近端严重粉碎性骨折

[目的]研究治疗肱骨近端严重粉碎性骨折的一种新方法。[方法]分析自2003年1月～2005年1月收治的8例肱骨近端严重粉碎性骨折患者的临床资料，通过患者术后肩关节功能恢复情况，评价Ender氏针加钢丝张力带内固定治疗肱骨近端严重粉碎性骨折的疗效。[结果]本组8例患者均获随访，随访时间6～18个月，平均11个月。采用Neer评分法评定疗效，其中优4例，良3例，可1例，差0例。[结论]Ender氏针加钢丝张力带内固定治疗肱骨近端严重粉碎性骨折具有重建肩关节解剖关系，使骨折达到功能复位和牢固内固定、术后不需外固定的优点，有利于术后早期功能锻炼，恢复肩关节功能。     

Intramedullary nailing in humeral shaft fractures

The aim of this in vitro study was to compare the mechanical behavior of fixation by the Russell-Taylor nail with the more recent Polarus nail. Fixation with an experimental nail made from polyacetal polymer was also included in the study. Thirty humeri were fractured and randomized to receive one of the three nail types. A four-point nondestructive bending test was performed, as well as torsional testing to failure. The torsional test was designed to record the amount of ‘play’ (uncontrolled rotation) in the bone/implant construct. The Polarus nail gave higher rigidity of the nail/bone construct than the two other types. The Russell-Taylor nailing exhibited a high degree of ‘play’ (uncontrolled rotation). The polyacetal nails allowed a large elastic deformation before failure. Received: 5 December 2000     

肱骨自锁髓内钉逆行插钉技术治疗肱骨骨折

目的探讨自锁髓内钉逆行插钉技术治疗肱骨干骨折的临床应用效果。方法采用逆行插钉技术髓内钉固定治疗14例肱骨干骨折。根据术后肩关节活动范围进行效果评价。结果随访12例,时间3~20个月,平均8·7个月,骨折均愈合。肩关节功能评价:优11例,良1例。结论采用肱骨自锁髓内钉逆行插钉技术治疗肱骨骨折在术后肩关节功能恢复上比顺行插钉技术具有优势。