Intramedullary Nail Fixation for the Treatment of Pathologic Humeral Shaft Fractures. 2020

Michael J Colello, and Michael D Hunter, and Stephanie L Tanner, and Scott E Porter

The goal of this study was to report the clinical outcomes of pathologic humeral shaft fractures treated with reamed or unreamed intramedullary nail fixation in an era of longer patient survival. A retrospective review was conducted of all patients who underwent intramedullary nail fixation performed by a single surgeon for pathologic humeral shaft fractures at a Level I trauma center from 2009 to 2017. Of the 25 patients who were identified, 9 were excluded. Groups were categorized according to whether they underwent reamed or unreamed fixation, and they were evaluated for evidence of union, complications, and reoperation. Of the patients, 11 underwent an unreamed procedure and 5 underwent a reamed procedure. Mean length of follow-up was 51.5 weeks. Of the patients who participated, 12 (75%) showed evidence of union and 2 patients (12.5%) showed evidence of nonunion, with no statistical difference between the groups. Five patients (31.3%) had complications. One nonunion occurred in the reamed group and did not require reoperation. In the unreamed group, complications consisted of 1 delayed union, 1 nonunion treated with revision intramedullary nail fixation, and 2 cases of disease progression that required reoperation. Intramedullary nail fixation of pathologic humeral shaft fractures achieves rates of union parallel to those seen with fixation in a healthy population. The length of follow-up in the current study was longer than the life expectancy reported by previous authors, which can be attributed to improvements in the treatment of cancer. The current authors argue that unreamed fixation is the optimal technique because it yields similar outcomes to a reamed approach and is faster and potentially safer. [Orthopedics. 2020;43(5):e389-e398.].

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
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
D001858 Bone Nails Rods of bone, metal, or other material used for fixation of the fragments or ends of fractured bones. Bone Pins,Bone Nail,Bone Pin,Nail, Bone,Nails, Bone,Pin, Bone,Pins, Bone
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
D005598 Fractures, Spontaneous Fractures occurring as a result of disease of a bone or from some undiscoverable cause, and not due to trauma. (Dorland, 27th ed) Fractures, Pathological,Fracture, Pathologic,Fracture, Pathological,Fractures, Pathologic,Pathological Fracture,Pathological Fractures,Fracture, Spontaneous,Pathologic Fracture,Pathologic Fractures,Spontaneous Fracture,Spontaneous Fractures
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D006810 Humeral Fractures Fractures of the HUMERUS. Humeri Fractures,Humerus Fractures,Fracture, Humeral,Fracture, Humeri,Fracture, Humerus,Humeral Fracture,Humeri Fracture,Humerus Fracture
D000368 Aged A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available. Elderly

Related Publications

Michael J Colello, and Michael D Hunter, and Stephanie L Tanner, and Scott E Porter
October 2003, Orthopedics,
Michael J Colello, and Michael D Hunter, and Stephanie L Tanner, and Scott E Porter
March 2017, Journal of orthopaedics,
Michael J Colello, and Michael D Hunter, and Stephanie L Tanner, and Scott E Porter
June 1984, The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume,
Michael J Colello, and Michael D Hunter, and Stephanie L Tanner, and Scott E Porter
March 1996, The Australian and New Zealand journal of surgery,
Michael J Colello, and Michael D Hunter, and Stephanie L Tanner, and Scott E Porter
January 2016, The archives of bone and joint surgery,
Michael J Colello, and Michael D Hunter, and Stephanie L Tanner, and Scott E Porter
December 2011, Musculoskeletal surgery,
Michael J Colello, and Michael D Hunter, and Stephanie L Tanner, and Scott E Porter
January 1987, Instructional course lectures,
Michael J Colello, and Michael D Hunter, and Stephanie L Tanner, and Scott E Porter
March 2013, Journal of shoulder and elbow surgery,
Michael J Colello, and Michael D Hunter, and Stephanie L Tanner, and Scott E Porter
April 2010, Acta orthopaedica,
Michael J Colello, and Michael D Hunter, and Stephanie L Tanner, and Scott E Porter
July 1993, Clinical orthopaedics and related research,
Copied contents to your clipboard!