Objective: To explore a new strategy to treat humeral shaft nonunion efficiently. Methods: In the light of mechanical characteristics of Nickel Titanium memory and the anatomic morphology of humeral shaft, we designed...Objective: To explore a new strategy to treat humeral shaft nonunion efficiently. Methods: In the light of mechanical characteristics of Nickel Titanium memory and the anatomic morphology of humeral shaft, we designed the swan like shape memory alloy connector (SMC). SMC was clinically applied in treating 55 cases of humeral shaft nonunion. Success rate of nonunion repair, reinterventions, complications, range of motion, and patient satisfaction were evaluated. Results: Fifty five humeral shaft nonunion patients were treated with autogenous bone grafting and SMC internal fixation. The average follow up period was 32 months. In 50 patients with complete follow up data, 49 were recovered from nonunion by lamellar bone healing. The excellent and good rate was 98%; one patient suffering from re fracture in a fall refused further treatment. Neither infection nor re fracture after SMC extraction or joint dysfunction was found in the whole group. Conclusion: SMC facilitates safe internal fixation and bone grafting; its memory biomechanic properties promote osteosynthesis, resulting in accelerated and high quality healing of humeral shaft nonunion. SMC internal fixation with bone grafting is creative, efficient and promising in treating humeral shaft nonunion.展开更多
基金SupportedbyShanghaiYouthScienceandTechnologyRisingStarPlan (No .0 3QD1 4 0 6 9)
文摘Objective: To explore a new strategy to treat humeral shaft nonunion efficiently. Methods: In the light of mechanical characteristics of Nickel Titanium memory and the anatomic morphology of humeral shaft, we designed the swan like shape memory alloy connector (SMC). SMC was clinically applied in treating 55 cases of humeral shaft nonunion. Success rate of nonunion repair, reinterventions, complications, range of motion, and patient satisfaction were evaluated. Results: Fifty five humeral shaft nonunion patients were treated with autogenous bone grafting and SMC internal fixation. The average follow up period was 32 months. In 50 patients with complete follow up data, 49 were recovered from nonunion by lamellar bone healing. The excellent and good rate was 98%; one patient suffering from re fracture in a fall refused further treatment. Neither infection nor re fracture after SMC extraction or joint dysfunction was found in the whole group. Conclusion: SMC facilitates safe internal fixation and bone grafting; its memory biomechanic properties promote osteosynthesis, resulting in accelerated and high quality healing of humeral shaft nonunion. SMC internal fixation with bone grafting is creative, efficient and promising in treating humeral shaft nonunion.