Antegrade locked intramedullary nailing in humeral shaft fractures

Thirty-three humeral nailings were carried out using the Russell-Taylor nail. Twenty-two acute fractures and one non-union united, gave an overall union rate of 70%.Eighteen patients (56%) experienced pain in the shoulder or at the fracture site. Thirteen patients (41%) had poor shoulder function. Only 17 (51%) of the patients were satisfied with the outcome. Fourteen patients (42%) needed further surgery.We conclude that antegrade intamedullary nailing of humeral shaft fractures leads to a substantial risk of non-union and impairment of shoulder function. There was no significant correlation between fracture comminution and fracture healing in our study.     

Treatment of nonunions of humeral fractures with inter-locking intramedullary nailing

Objective： To introduce the experience of treating nonunions of humeral fractures with interlocking intramedullary nailing.
Methods： Twelve patients with humeral nonunions were treated with interlocking intramedullary nailing. The time interval between trauma and surgery was 10.5 months on average. Open reduction with anterograde approach was performed. Axial compression was specially applied to the fracture site with humeral nail holder after insertion of distal locked screws. Iliac bone grafting was added.
Results： The average follow-up period was 21 months （ranging 9-51 months）. All patients achieved osseous union 5.8 months after treatment on average. Eleven patients hadgood functions of the shoulder joints and the upper extremities. No patient experienced any permanent neurological deficit. Refracture of the original ununited region occurred in one patient after removal of the internal fixator one year later, but union was achieved after closed re-intramedullary nailing fixation.
Conclusion： Humeral interlocking intramedullary nailing is an effective alternative treatment for humeral nonunion.     

Locked intramedullary nailing for difficult nonunions of the humeral diaphysis

Antegrade intramedullary nailing and bone grafting was carried out for 27 patients with resistant atrophic nonunion of the humeral diaphysis. The initial fracture was open in 12 cases and closed in 15. There were ten proximal humeral fractures, 13 mid-shaft fractures and four distal humeral shaft fractures. Most had previous attempts at internal fixation with bone grafting. Fifteen cases united, but 12 remained ununited necessitating further surgical treatment. The failures were all in the more complex cases. Lack of rigidity and compression may be the problem.     

Revision with plates of humeral nonunions secondary to failed intramedullary nailing

Purpose

The objective of this study was to evaluate the results achieved after revision with plates of humeral nonunions secondary to failed intramedullary nailing.

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated 32 patients with humeral nonunions secondary to failed intramedullary nailing, treated by internal fixation with plates between 1998 and 2012. Nonunions were diaphyseal in 19 cases, they were located in the proximal humeral metaphysis in nine cases, and in the distal humeral metaphysis in four cases. There were 11 atrophic nonunions and 21 oligotrophic nonunions. Initial treatment was performed with static locked nails in 12 cases, nails with expansive locking systems in 11 cases, and using thin elastic nails in nine cases. The nails were placed antegrade in 18 cases and retrograde in 14 cases. Time between initial surgery and revision surgery averaged 14.5 months. In seven diaphyseal nonunions, the intramedullary nail was left in-situ. Bone graft was added in 25 cases.

Results

Follow-up averaged 35 months. Union was achieved in all cases, after an average of 3.8 months. Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score at last follow-up averaged 14 points, and Constant’s score averaged 82 points. The analogue scale of pain averaged 0.8 points. Out of seven patients with radial nerve compromise, six recovered completely and one needed tendon transfers.

Conclusions

Revision with plates after failed intramedullary humeral nailing achieved union and good predictable objective and subjective results in all cases. Adequate implant selection and meticulous surgical technique are necessary to achieve successful osteosynthesis and bony union.     

Platelet-rich plasma versus exchange intramedullary nailing in treatment of long bone oligotrophic nonunions

Introduction

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of platelet-rich plasma on healing rates and healing time in the treatment of long bone nonunions treated by an intramedullary nail previously.

Materials and methods

Between August 2008 and January 2012, 14 consecutive patients who were treated for long bone nonunions with percutaneous platelet-rich plasma application (PRP) were included in the study. The control group included 15 consecutive patients who were treated with exchange intramedullary nailing (EIN). In the postoperative period, all patients were controlled in every 2 weeks clinically and in every 4 weeks radiologically. Patients were evaluated with visual analog scale (VAS) in preoperative and postoperative periods.

Results

The mean healing time was shorter in PRP group as 16.71 ± 2.4 weeks compared with that of 19.07 ± 3.67 weeks in EIN group (p = 0.053). At the end of the follow-up, the union is achieved in 92.8% of the cases in PRP group. This ratio was 80% in control group. The mean VAS values in preoperative and postoperative periods were not statistically significant in both groups (p > 0.05). When PRP and control groups were evaluated individually, the postoperative VAS was lower than that of preoperative VAS in both groups (p = 0.0001 and p = 0.0001, respectively).

Conclusion

Percutaneous PRP application significantly affected union rate, but no significant difference found when compared to EIN in the treatment of oligotrophic nonunions after intramedullary nailing of long bone fractures. PRP can be applied as a minimally invasive and safe method of saving resources in medical care instead of EIN.

     

Anatomic considerations of locked humeral nailing

To investigate the risk of axillary nerve injury by the proximal locking screws in antegrade nailing of humeral fractures, the anatomy of the axillary nerve was examined in 20 fresh anatomic specimen humeri, which subsequently were nailed antegrade with specially designed humeral locked nails. The axillary nerve was found to be on average 45.6 mm below the tip of the greater tuberosity; it was jeopardized by insertion of the lower proximal locking screw in one of the 20 specimens. Short humeri, humeri with small heads, or too deeply inserted nails may increase the risk of nerve injury; likewise, a lower location and more horizontal direction of the locking screws and a greater curvature of the nail can heighten the risk. In addition to the examination of the axillary nerve, a geometric study of these anatomic specimen was performed and was aimed at improving retrograde nailing technique and thus treatment results. The humeral geometry indicated that for the best linearity in the sagittal plane, an entry portal incorporating the superior margin of the olecranon fossa would be recommended for the 14 humeri with a distal humeral offset less than 4 mm, whereas a supracondylar entry portal would be recommended for the six humeri with an offset larger than 4 mm. For best linearity in the coronal plane, the entry portal and nailing direction should be more lateral in humeri with a smaller humeral elbow angle.     

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 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.     

Antegrade locked nailing for humeral shaft fractures

Treatment results of antegrade locked nailing of acute humeral shaft fractures, including union rate and recovery of shoulder function, have been inconsistent. This led the current authors to hypothesize that implant design and surgical techniques might account for this inconsistency. In the current study, 47 fractures (38 acute; nine pathologic) in 47 patients achieved union with the techniques of closed nailing, short to long segment nailing, and fracture compression. Satisfactory recovery of shoulder function occurred because of minimal surgical trauma, prevention of impingement by the nail or locking screws, and prevention of axillary nerve injury or comminution of the humeral head. Forty-seven patients with 38 acute fractures and nine pathologic fractures were treated with humeral locked nails. Mean followup time was 21.4 months. With a single operation, all 38 acute fractures proceeded to eventual union; the average time to union was 7.8 weeks. Thirty-five patients had excellent or satisfactory recovery of shoulder function. Complications included slipout of the proximal screw, nail breakage, fragment displacement, and transient postoperative radial nerve palsy. All nine patients with pathologic fractures had substantial pain relief and increased arm function after surgery. The current study shows the reliability of antegrade locked nailing for proximal and middle third fractures of the humeral shaft.     

自锁髓内钉固定治疗肱骨干骨折

年1月～2004年5月,我们采用自锁髓内钉内固定治疗肱骨干骨折,同时行桡神经探查术,效果满意,报道如下.     

交锁髓内钉固定治疗肱骨干骨折术后并发症分析

目的 目前对于肱骨交锁髓内钉固定治疗肱骨干骨折的文献报告较多,但对其术后并发症的研究较少.对交锁髓内钉固定治疗肱骨干骨折的术后并发症进行分析研究.方法 2000年1月至2004年1月,对73例肱骨干骨折（1例为双侧）及16例肱骨骨不连的患者行肱骨交锁髓内钉固定术治疗,术后随访12～34个月,平均25.4个月.男56例,女33例,平均39.3岁.74侧肱骨干骨折中62侧为闭合性骨折,余12侧为开放性骨折,其中Gustilo Ⅰ型7侧,Ⅱ型3侧,Ⅲa型2侧.12例骨不连患者有手术史.骨折病例采用闭合复位髓内钉固定,骨不连病例采用切开复位髓内钉内固定及异体骨植入.53侧采用顺行髓内钉固定,37侧采用逆行髓内钉固定.结果 17例患者中出现了18例明显并发症,发生率为20%.其中骨不连5例,顺行与逆行髓内钉之间差异无统计学意义（P=0.33）;肩关节撞击征2例,骨折端分离3例,肩关节损伤3例,肘关节损伤3例,医原性骨折2例,成角畸形2例,一过性桡神经损伤3例,深部感染1例.骨折端存在明显间隙者有较高的骨不连发生率（P=0.012）.结论 交锁髓内钉固定治疗肱骨干骨折有较高的并发症发生率,逆行髓内钉内固定有较高的医原性骨折的可能性,但只要选用合适的内置物、提高手术操作技巧,就能把并发症发生率降至最低.     

Complications of locked nailing in humeral shaft fractures

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the complications of humeral locked nailing. METHODS: Between 1994 and 2000, 161 humeral shaft fractures (98 acute fractures and 63 delayed unions or nonunions) in 159 patients treated with humeral locked nails were followed up for an average of 25.4 months. There were 89 men and 70 women, with an average age of 53.5 years. Acute fractures included 68 closed, 18 type I, 8 type II, 3 type IIIA, and 1 type IIIB open fractures. Thirty-six nonunions had previous operations. In general, acute fractures were treated with closed nailing and nonunions were treated with open nailing with bone grafting. Since 1998, interfragmentary wiring has been added in nonunions to compress the fracture. RESULTS: In total, 30 patients had 31 significant complications. Nine of them were persistent nonunions, six from acute fractures and three from nonunions. Fracture gap was associated with a significantly higher risk of nonunion. The risk of operative comminution was significantly higher in retrograde nailing, and operative comminution resulted in a significantly higher risk of nonunion. Seven of the nine nonunions underwent revisional nailing and achieved eventual union. Removal of the protruded screws was performed in two cases. Other complications included shoulder impairment, elbow impairment, angular malunion, and post-nailing radial nerve palsy. CONCLUSION: Many complications of humeral locked nailing can be prevented by improving the implant design or surgical techniques. The patients with persistent nonunion can be reliably treated by revisional nailing and bone grafting.     

顺行锁定髓内钉和动力加压钢板治疗肱骨干骨折的系统评价

[目的]对比顺行锁定髓内钉和动力加压钢板治疗肱骨干骨折的临床结果,并为以后此类骨折的治疗提供更可信的证据。[方法]计算机检索Cochrane library、Medline、Embase、CNKI等数据库网站,检索2016年12月以前有关顺行锁定髓内钉和动力加压钢板治疗肱骨干骨折的文献,筛选文献后采用Revman 5.0软件进行分析,获得两种方法治疗肱骨干骨折的临床结果。[结果]最初搜索文献472篇,经过筛选后最终有8篇纳入研究,共计完成随访患者373例,其中顺行髓内钉治疗者187例,动力加压钢板治疗者186例。Meta分析表明,顺行锁定髓内钉组患者术后感染率明显低于动力加压钢板组[OR=0.34,95%CI(0.12,0.98),P=0.05],但前者肩部撞击征与再次手术率明显高于后者[OR=7.81,95%CI(2.51,24.33),P<0.001;OR=2.61,95%CI(1.19,5.72),P=0.02],术后桡神经损伤与骨折不愈合率,两者之间差异无统计学意义。[结论]与顺行锁定髓内钉相比,动力加压钢板治疗肱骨干骨折可以降低肩部撞击征与再次手术发生率,但却增加了术后感染的发生率;术后桡神经损伤及骨折不愈合方面,两者差异无统计学意义。     

MRI of the knee after locked unreamed intramedullary nailing of tibia

We analysed the reason for knee pain after intramedullary (IM) nailing with standard MRI sequences at a mean of 27 months (range 2–45) after nail removal in eleven patients with a mean age of 30 years (range 15–52). Knee pain was assessed in four grades. All our patients had signal changes of fluid in the nail channel, areas of low signal intensity in Hoffa’s fat pad and subcutaneous low signal nodes in front of a thickened patellar ligament. Ten patients had low signal adhesions from the nail insertion towards the patellar ligament. Six patients had severe knee pain and even marked adhesions. Two patients had no knee pain; one of these two had minimal adhesions and the other one no adhesions. Five of the patients had a meniscal tear and/or local cartilage reduction. The degree of adhesions from the nail insertion in the tibia towards the patellar ligament was proportional to the degree of knee pain. No sign of acute inflammation was found. Abstract presented, in part, at the European Society of Musculoskeletal Radiology Annual Meeting, 13–14 June 2003, Aarhus, Denmark.     

Treatment of humeral shaft delayed unions and nonunions with humeral locked nails

OBJECTIVE: To report experience with use of humeral locked nails in treating humeral delayed unions and nonunions. The following techniques yielded encouragingly good results: static locking, short-to-long segment nailing, bone grafting, fracture compression, and minimal surgical trauma. DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 41 consecutive patients with 13 delayed unions and 28 nonunions were treated with humeral locked nails. Delay from trauma to surgery averaged 4.2 months for delayed union and 15.5 months for nonunion. The average age of patients was 50.2 years; average follow-up time was 23.2 months. There were 7 proximal-third fractures, 21 middle-third fractures, and 13 distal-third fractures. The antegrade approach was used for 13 fractures and retrograde for 28. Open nailing was performed in 39 fractures and closed nailing in 2. If the fracture motion was still present after nail insertion, axial compression of the fracture site was specially applied. Bone grafting was performed in the fractures with open nailing. Thirty-four fractures were nailed with 8-mm nails, and 7 fractures were nailed with 7-mm nails. RESULTS: With a single operation, all but two patients achieved osseous union in, on average, 5.6 months. One of these two patients eventually gained union after another surgery with fracture compression along the original nail and concurrent bone grafting. The second patient, undergoing hemodialysis for chronic renal failure, had persistent nonunion. At follow-up, for patients with antegrade nailing, all but four patients had less than 20 degrees limitation of shoulder abduction. For patients with retrograde nailing, all but two had less than 10 degrees limitation of elbow motion. Only the patient with persistent nonunion had continual pain and significant impairment of arm function. CONCLUSIONS: Humeral locked nailing seems to be effective for humeral delayed unions or nonunions. It may be an acceptable alternative for fractures unsuited for plate fixation, such as those with comminution, osteoporosis, or a severely adhered radial nerve.     

Treatment of humeral shaft nonunions: nailing versus plating

Introduction The aim of this study was to compare plating and nailing for treating nonunions of the upper two-thirds of the humerus.Materials and methods Fifty nonunions of the upper two-thirds of the humerus were treated by two different methods: 24 of them by unreamed locked nailing and bone graft (group A), and the other 26 by plate fixation and bone grafting (group B).Results All fractures healed in both groups. In group A, the time required for healing was 4.2 months (range 4–6 months), whereas in group B it was 4.7 months (range 4–6 months). This difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). Functional results and the range of motion of the shoulder and elbow were similar with both techniques. In group B there were 3 cases of transient, iatrogenic, radial nerve palsy.Conclusions We feel that both plate fixation and the unreamed humeral locked nail are good alternatives for the treatment of humeral shaft nonunions, although nailing achieves union earlier and has fewer complications.