The Causes And Surgical Treatment Of Nonunion Of Long Bone Shaft Fractures

Objective:To retrospectively analyze the causes and surgical treatment of nonunion of long bone shaft fractures.Methods:37cases of nonunion of long bone shaft fractures were retrospectively studied from Jul.2008 to June 2010.Nonunion were located at the humerus in 11 cases,femur in 11 cases,tibia in 9cases.radius or ulna in 6 cases.Analyze the causes of nonunion of a1l the cases and they were treated with open reduction and internal fixation combined with autogenous bone graft or allografts bone.21 eases were fixed with interlocked nails(femur in 6 cases, tibia in 4 cases),27 with plate and screw(humerus in 11 cases,femur in 5 cases,tibia in 5cases.radius or ulna in 6 cases).13 cases received artificial bone, 24 cases had autogenous bone.Results:The main causes for nonunion were severe trauma,by effect of operation,location of fracture and factors of the patients.After 9 to 24 months (mean 18 months) follow-up, all patients were healed.Conclusion:Nonunion usually result from multiple causes,severe injury and by effect of operation are the main causes.A good method for nonunion can be expected by excision of stiff bone,re-communication of medullary cavity,internal fixation combined with autogenous bone or artificial bone.