TREATMENT OF NO UNION OF THE HUMERAL SHAFT WITH 4.5 mm AO COMPRESSION PLATES: SIX YEARS CLINIC EXPERIENCE

This is a retrospective observational study of serial cases seen between January 1998 and July 2004 at the Hospital Militar Central in Bogota, Colombia. 53 patients presented with nonunion of the humeral shaft with variable mechanisms of injury. All of the patients had plate fi xation with bone graft and the function, consolidation time and associated complications were evaluated. The average follow-up was 52.4 weeks; there were 3 cases of superfi cial infection, 1 case of deep infection, 2 patients experienced Complex Regional Syndrome and 1 patient presented material loosening as a complication. 100% of the patients had fracture consolidation, 89 % showed excellent to good outcome according to the DASH functional classifi cation. From these results we conclude that plate fi xation with bone graft is an excellent surgical method to treat the non-union of the humeral shaft; achieving satisfactory fracture consolidation and early rehabilitation.