Hang-Lin Nailing for Humeral Shaft Fractures

We have treated 33 humeral shaft fractures including 22 fresh fractures, 5 pathological fractures and 6 nonumions from 1992 to 1994 with a specially designed Hang-Lin (HL)nail which was a homogenous cylinder nail with 2 transfixation screws at both ends. The fresh fractures comprised 17 closed, 2 type I, 2type II and 1 type III open fractures. Bone comminution as AO classification was 9 type A, 8 type and 5 type C. The distribution of the fractures was 5 in proximal third, 10 in middle third and 7 in distal third. The medium duration of nonumion was 1.4 years. Six patients had 7 previous operations. The distribution of the nonunion was 2 in proximal third, 2 in middle third and 2 in distal third. The pathological fractures were caused by metastasis of lung cancer in 1, breast cancer in 3, and prostate cancer in on one. Antegrade nailing was performed in 13, and retrograde nailing in 20 cases. All of the fresh fractures and nonumions achieved solid union without infection. The average union time was 8.4 week for fresh fractures and 13.2 weeks for nonunions. All the patients with pathological fractures had good pain relief and functional recovery. There were no patients with limited shoulder joint or elbow joint motion except for one patient with a type IIIb open fracture. He had 0 to 100∘elbow motion after repeated soft tissue surgeries. One patient with distal fracture was complicated with 10∘varus malunion. Iatrogenic bony split occurred in 2 cases of retrograde nailing but the healing was not affected. Internal fixation with HL nails is worthy of recommendation in the operative fixation of humeral shaft fractures. Retrograde nailing was preferred if possible.

並列關鍵字

Humeral shaft fracture ； HL nail

國際替代計量

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