Autogenous Onlay Graft with Compression Plate for Treatment of Persistent Humeral Shaft Aseptic Non-union with Failed Previous Surgery

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The humeral shaft fractures have a good rate of union, despite this fact, still there is a significant rate of nonunion after nonoperative treatment and more often after operative treatment. AIM: The aim of the study is to evaluate the autogenous onlay graft with compression plate for treatment of persistent humeral shaft non-union with failed previous surgery both radiological and functional outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective study on twenty patients having persistent aseptic non-union age between 20 and 60 years old, after failed surgical treatment of fractures humeral shaft in Al-Zahra teaching and Al-Kindy teaching hospitals, while infected nonunion, diabetes mellitus, secondary metastasis, smoking, alcoholism, and patients on long medication with corticosteroid were excluded from the study. All our patients were treated with corticocancellous onlay bone grafting harvesting from the ipsilateral upper tibia and compression plating (graft parallel to plate) and follow-up for at least 18 months post-operative to evaluate both radiology and functional using Mayo elbow performance index. RESULTS: All the patients ended with a solid union without hardware failure, and no one patient needs further surgery, even with significant resorption of the graft, there is a good chance of graft re-calcification and solid union with good to excellent functional outcome. CONCLUSION: Very successful solid union results achieve in those patients with established aseptic nonunion and pseudoarthrosis of the humerus.