Intramedullary nailing of humeral shaft fractures.

Twenty-one patients with 22 acute traumatic fractures of the humeral diaphysis were treated either with the True/Flex intramedullary rod or the Russell-Taylor rod. Follow-up is provided on 20 fractures. Indications for fixation on all but 3 patients was either multiple fractures, associated chest or abdominal trauma, vascular interruption, or open fracture. The series included 4 open fractures. Time to union averaged 7.6 weeks, with two nonunions, both in open fractures. Two isolated preoperative radial nerve palsies resolved fully; four brachial plexus injuries had a more complex recovery. No iatrogenic nerve damage was encountered. Excluding those patients with brachial plexus deficits, shoulder range of motion returned reliably. Impingement with a rod prominence was noted in 1 fracture. Functionally, all of the fractures, aside from those associated with a brachial plexus injury, had a normal or only mildly limiting result as reported by the patient. Additionally, eight humeral nonunions were treated with a reamed Russell-Taylor humeral nail with supplemental iliac crest bone graft at the time of nailing in 3 patients. Five of these 8 patients went on to union.