Nonunion of the humeral shaft: About 42 cases in the orthopaedic-traumatology department of the CHU ignace deen in Conakry

Abstract

Introduction: Nonunion or pseudarthrosis is the leading late complication of humerus shaft fractures. This study's objective was to report our department's experience managing pseudarthrosis of the humeral shaft. Patients and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with a retrospective collection of descriptive type lasting ten (10) years from January 2010 to December 2020. It focused on the files of patients hospitalized and treated for nonunion of the humeral shaft. Results: We recorded 42 cases of nonunion of the humeral shaft. The average age of the patients was 20 years old, with a male predominance of 66.67% and a sex ratio of two. The closed fracture was the most frequent initial lesion in 88.10%, and the traditional treatment was carried out in 73.91% of patients. Aseptic nonunion was the most found in 71.43%, of which 38.10% were hypertrophic. Osteosynthesis by screwed plate was the most performed in 71.43%, allowing the union to be obtained in 95.24% of patients within an average period of five months. Conclusion: Nonunion of the humeral shaft is a frequent late complication of humeral fractures whose surgical treatment gives satisfactory results.