Biomaterial Database

Nonunion after intramedullary nailing of humeral shaft fractures. 2001

T Flinkkilä, and J Ristiniemi, and M Hämäläinen

Department of Surgery, Division of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, University Hospital, Oulu, Finland. Tapio.Flinkkila@oulu.fi

OBJECTIVE To assess results of exchange nailing in nonunion after intramedullary (IM) nailing of humeral shaft fractures. METHODS This was a retrospective study; 24 patients with nonunion after IM nailing of humeral shaft fractures were reviewed. In 13 cases, nonunion was treated using exchange nailing, and 11 patients were treated nonoperatively. Union was assessed from radiographs. Shoulder joint symptoms and function were assessed after a mean 4.7 years' follow-up using Constant-Murley scoring and self-administered questionnaires devised by L'Insalata et al. RESULTS Single or repeated exchange nailing resulted in union in 6 of 13 patients. Shoulder joint function was satisfactory (mean Constant-Murley score of 72) for those patients whose fracture eventually united and poor (mean Constant-Murley score of 39) for those left with nonunion. CONCLUSIONS Exchange nailing results in a poor union rate in nonunion after IM nailing of humeral shaft fractures. Permanent nonunion of the humeral shaft leaves the patient with severe disability.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D011795	Surveys and Questionnaires	Collections of data obtained from voluntary subjects. The information usually takes the form of answers to questions, or suggestions.	Community Survey,Nonrespondent,Questionnaire,Questionnaires,Respondent,Survey,Survey Method,Survey Methods,Surveys,Baseline Survey,Community Surveys,Methodology, Survey,Nonrespondents,Questionnaire Design,Randomized Response Technique,Repeated Rounds of Survey,Respondents,Survey Methodology,Baseline Surveys,Design, Questionnaire,Designs, Questionnaire,Methods, Survey,Questionnaire Designs,Questionnaires and Surveys,Randomized Response Techniques,Response Technique, Randomized,Response Techniques, Randomized,Survey, Baseline,Survey, Community,Surveys, Baseline,Surveys, Community,Techniques, Randomized Response
D011859	Radiography	Examination of any part of the body for diagnostic purposes by means of X-RAYS or GAMMA RAYS, recording the image on a sensitized surface (such as photographic film).	Radiology, Diagnostic X-Ray,Roentgenography,X-Ray, Diagnostic,Diagnostic X-Ray,Diagnostic X-Ray Radiology,X-Ray Radiology, Diagnostic,Diagnostic X Ray,Diagnostic X Ray Radiology,Diagnostic X-Rays,Radiology, Diagnostic X Ray,X Ray Radiology, Diagnostic,X Ray, Diagnostic,X-Rays, Diagnostic
D012086	Reoperation	A repeat operation for the same condition in the same patient due to disease progression or recurrence, or as followup to failed previous surgery.	Revision, Joint,Revision, Surgical,Surgery, Repeat,Surgical Revision,Repeat Surgery,Revision Surgery,Joint Revision,Revision Surgeries,Surgery, Revision
D005260	Female		Females
D005594	Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary	The use of nails that are inserted into bone cavities in order to keep fractured bones together.	Intramedullary Nailing,Nailing, Intramedullary,Osteosynthesis, Fracture, Intramedullary,Fixation, Intramedullary Fracture,Fixations, Intramedullary Fracture,Fracture Fixations, Intramedullary,Intramedullary Fracture Fixation,Intramedullary Fracture Fixations,Intramedullary Nailings,Nailings, Intramedullary
D005599	Fractures, Ununited	A fracture in which union fails to occur, the ends of the bone becoming rounded and eburnated, and a false joint occurs. (Stedman, 25th ed)	Fracture, Ununited,Ununited Fracture,Ununited Fractures
D006233	Disabled Persons	Persons with physical or mental disabilities that affect or limit their activities of daily living and that may require special accommodations.	Handicapped,People with Disabilities,Persons with Disabilities,Physically Challenged,Physically Handicapped,Physically Disabled,Disabilities, People with,Disabilities, Persons with,Disability, Persons with,Disabled Person,Disabled, Physically,Handicapped, Physically,People with Disability,Person, Disabled,Persons with Disability,Persons, Disabled
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man