INTERLOCKING NAILING OF HUMERAL SHAFT FRACTURES - THE OXFORD EXPERIENCE 1991 TO 1994

Forty-three patients with fractures of the humeral shaft were treated by locked intermedullary nailing, using the Russell-Taylor nailing sys tem. Overall there were few technical problems with nail insertion. Ad ditional fracture comminution occurred in live patients but affected s tability in only one case. Twenty-six nails were inserted into 22 pati ents with pathological fractures. The objective of fracture stabilizat ion and pain relief for the remaining life-span of the patient was ach ieved in all but one case. Out of 21 non-pathological fractures, seven had failed to unite at 8 months (33 per cent). Furthermore, five of t he 17 fractures nailed soon after injury (29 per cent) went on to non- union. Four of 15 patients reviewed clinically had poor or unsatisfact ory shoulder function. These results suggest that interlocking nailing should be used with caution in the management of non-pathological fra ctures. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.