Use of an Expandable Nail in the Treatment of Non-Union Fractures of the Femur, Tibia and Humerus

Abstract

Non-union after diaphyseal fractures is an important and relevant clinical problem. Despite the availability of improved surgical techniques, antibiotics, and complex soft tissue coverage procedures, non-union occurs in many patients after diaphyseal fractures [10] [20] [23] [36]. Twenty-four patients with the diagnosis of pseudarthrosis of femur, tibia, or humerus were operated on at the University of Louisville Hospital using an expandable intramedullary nail. The patients were followed until clinical and radiological union was achieved. Twenty-three of the twenty-four patients obtained satisfactory results with this method of fixation. This preliminary study demonstrates that an expandable intramedullary nail can be used successfully in the treatment of selected long bone pseudarthrosis.

Non-union - delayed union - pseudarthrosis - fixion nail - expandable nail

References

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