Hasan Karapınar, Ulaş Akgün, Cemal Kazımoğlu, Tugrul Bulut, Muhittin Şener

İzmir Atatürk Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi 1. Ortopedi ve Travmatoloji Kliniği, İzmir, Türkiye

Keywords: Humerus; Ilizarov technique; intramedullar nail; nonunion.

Abstract

Objectives: In this study, we presented our experience with Ilizarov augmentation in the treatment of patients with humeral shaft nonunion following failed intramedullary nail fixation.
Patients and methods: Seven patients (4 females, 3 males; mean age 47 years; range 32 to 62 years) with established humeral nonunions following antegrade intramedullary nailing were evaluated retrospectively. In all patients an Ilizarov fixator was applied over the nail as a closed procedure. The average period between the first injury and fixator application was 12.2 months (range 8 to 21). The patients were assessed radiologically with respect to bony union at follow-up. Constant scoring was used to assess shoulder function in the clinical evaluation.
Results: All nonunions healed without a major complication. Five patients had superficial pin tract infections which responded well to antibiotic treatment. The followup average Constant score was 78.
Conclusion: Ilizarov external fixation is an alternative and effective method in the treatment of aseptic humeral shaft nonunion following failed intramedullary nailing.