Pedicled Vascularized Bone Graft of the Distal Radius for Recalcitrant Nonunion of the Distal Humerus.

OBJECTIVES

To analyze the clinical and radiological outcomes of a series of patients treated with a pedicled vascularized bone graft (VBG) of the distal radius for the treatment of recalcitrant atrophic nonunions of the distal humerus.

DESIGN

Retrospective clinical study.

SETTING

University-affiliated teaching hospital.

PATIENTS: Fifteen patients with supracondylar humeral atrophic nonunions with at least 3 previous failed surgical interventions were included.

INTERVENTION: Debridement of the distal humerus nonunion through a posterior elbow approach with provisional fixation was performed. Then, a pedicled VBG was harvested from the distal radius and tunneled back into the humeral bone defect. Iliac crest was used as needed, both for the nonunion and to stabilize the radius. Finally, definitive fixation with 2 locked plates was performed.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Radiological results, complications, elbow range of motion, Mayo elbow performance score, and subjective pain were evaluated.

RESULTS

There were 4 male and 11 female patients, with a mean age of 51 (range, 28-73) years. The mean follow-up period was 46 (range, 37-72) months with a minimum of 3 years. Radiological consolidation was achieved in all patients. Elbow range of motion was >100 degrees in 11 patients and between 50 and 100 degrees in 4 patients. Preoperative Mayo scores were poor in all patients. At final follow-up, Mayo scores were excellent in 3, good in 9, and fair in 3 patients. The mean postoperative visual analog scale score was 1.2 (range 0-3).

CONCLUSIONS

Pedicled VBG of the distal radius was shown to be a reliable and effective alternative for the treatment of recalcitrant atrophic nonunions of the distal humerus, when other methods have failed.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.