Case Report
 

By Dr. Sameer Aggarwal , Dr. Vishal Kumar , Dr. Kamal Bali , Dr. Uttam Saini , Dr. Aditya Mootha
Corresponding Author Dr. Vishal Kumar
Orthopaedics, PGIMER , k-158,MDH,PGIMER,chandigarh - India 160012
Submitting Author Dr. Vishal Kumar
Other Authors Dr. Sameer Aggarwal
Orthopaedics, PGIMER , Deptt.of Orthopaedics,PGIMER,INDIA - India 160012

Dr. Kamal Bali
Orthopaedics, PGIMER , Deptt.of Orthopaedics,PGIMER,INDIA - India 160012

Dr. Uttam Saini
Orthopaedics, PGIMER , I-123(MDH),PGIMER,INDIA - India 160012

Dr. Aditya Mootha
Orthopaedics, PGIMER , K-154(MDH),PGIMER,INDIA - India 160012

ORTHOPAEDICS

Humerus, Nonunion, shaft, Plate Osteosynthesis, Osteoporosis

Aggarwal S, Kumar V, Bali K, Saini U, Mootha A. Bilateral Shaft Humerus Nonunion With Acceptable Function - Case Report And Review Of Literature. WebmedCentral ORTHOPAEDICS 2010;1(10):WMC00928
doi: 10.9754/journal.wmc.2010.00928
No
Submitted on: 08 Oct 2010 02:48:43 PM GMT
Published on: 09 Oct 2010 07:15:19 AM GMT

Abstract


Nonunion of the humeral shaft is rarely seen and reported in literature. Possible etiology being osteoporosis, osteomalacia, anti-epileptics and other metabolic bone diseases with poor stabilization are sporadically reported in literature. Non-union of humerus leads to major disability of patient because of inability to perform day today activities and always demand treatment. We report a case of bilateral idiopathic nonunion of the humeral shaft in a 56 year old healthy female with acceptable function, who refused surgery and is doing fine at home .

Introduction


Proximal humerus fractures are known to occur in old age or are associated with violent trauma in young adults. Combination of this fracture with contra lateral shaft fracture is not common. Treatment for this type of injury is essentially surgical. Non union is always a possibility with various treatment methods described in literature. Non union leads to functional disability and warrant treatment .

We are reporting this case because of its rarity. Combination of shaft fracture with proximal humerus fracture developing in non union of humeral shaft bilaterally is rare to see in literature. More over acceptable function without any restriction of day to day activity with bilateral humeral shaft non union is not documented anywhere in literature.

Case Report(s)


Our patient is 56 years old female, who presented to us in emergency department in 2004 with fractures of proximal humerus on left side and right shaft of humerus. We managed these with LCDCP for shaft fracture and angled blade plate for proximal humerus. Post op x-rays (fig. 1) were fine showing good anatomical reduction. Sutures was removed at 14th post op day and asked patient for regular follow up for physiotherapy and to watch for any complication if occurs. At latest follow up in March 2010, she presented to us with complaints of dull pain in both arms and difficulty in lifting weights and problem in carrying out her daily activities. On examination we found painless abnormal mobility in shaft of humerus both side. Implant was palpable on both sides. Radiographs taken this time were showing implant failure with broken screws with hypertrophic nonunion on right side and peri-implant fracture and atrophic non union on left side. Proximal humerus fracture was united well (fig. 2 and  3). We explained patient regarding need of revision surgery which includes implant removal and dynamic compression plating and bone grafting on both side. Patient returned home for preparation and discussion with other family members. On  repeated calls,she now denies surgery stating that she has no great difficulty in carrying out her daily activities and she does not want any surgery for her little pain.

Discussion


Humeral shaft fractures account for approximately 1.3% of all fractures 1. Bilateral fractures are even more rare. Nonunion of humeral shaft fractures are reported after both conservative and surgical management, incidence of this may be as high as 1-15% 2-11. Non-union after surgical management of humeral shaft fractures is multi-factorial. Following factors may play a role in nonunion - inadequate fracture fixation with poor contact between the fracture segments, osteomalacia, osteoporosis, infection, devitalization of bone and many more 2-14. Compression plating with a 4.5mm plate and autogenous bone grafting has been considered the gold standard with a reported success rate greater that 90 percent 15, 16.

In our case after surgery proximal humerus fracture united well but possibly because of stress on osteoporotic bone of this old female, stress fracture  developed distal to angled plate that went in non union. Peri-implant stress fracture after angled plate fixation for proximal humerus fracture is rare to find in literature. Possible cause might be osteoporosis or some metabolic bone disease 17, 18. We did not found any such obvious cause in our patient. After thorough review we reached to conclusion that in presence of senile osteoporosis and repeated minor trauma may  cause this stress fracture and development of non union thereafter. Treatment should be plate removal and re-fixation with larger plate and bone grafting19. Conservative treatment is also described in literature for elderly high surgical risk patients who has little discomfort with this type of nonunion6.

Shaft fracture on other side also went into non union and pseudo-arthrosis at fracture site with breakage of some screws. Possible cause was a screw that was noted at fracture site in immediate post op radiograph.

We decided to operate upon her to deal with nonunion because of bilateral involvement leading to functional impairment and risk of development of other complications because of floating implant and broken screws in side. Plan was osteosynthesis with longer plate and bone grafting after implant removal but patient and her relatives refused for same. It was probably because of low demand of old poor female and acceptable functional out come even with bilateral humeral nonunion.

Conclusion


There is  always some chance of developing non union in humeral shaft factures. This is noted  more in old age, so we should protect the fracture even after operative stabilization until fracture  shows  good evidence of union and regular follow up is also necessary to pick signs of impending nonunion or development of peri-implant stress fracture. In old age with low demands for carrying out day to day activities, it is always a possibility to learn to live with non union of a non weight bearing bone like humerus as in our case.

References


1.Brinker MR, O'Connor DP. The incidence of fractures and dislocations referred for orthopaedic services in a capitated population. J Bone Joint Surg Am 2004;86-A:290-7.
2.Bernard de Dompsure R, Peter R, Hoffmeyer P. Uninfected nonunion of the humeral diaphyses: Review of 21 patients treated with shingling, compression plate, and autologous bone graft. Orthopaedics & Traumatology: Surgery & Research 2010;96:139-46.
3.Ekholm R, Tidermark J, Tornkvist H, Adami J, Ponzer S. Outcome after closed functional treatment of humeral shaft fractures. J Orthop Trauma 2006;20:591-6.
4.Healy WL, White GM, Mick CA, Brooker AF, Jr., Weiland AJ. Nonunion of the humeral shaft. Clin Orthop Relat Res 1987:206-13.
5.Hsu TL, Chiu FY, Chen CM, Chen TH. Treatment of nonunion of humeral shaft fracture with dynamic compression plate and cancellous bone graft. J Chin Med Assoc 2005;68:73-6.
6.Jupiter JB, von Deck M. Ununited humeral diaphyses. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 1998;7:644-53.
7.Kang R, Stern PJ. Humeral Nonunion Associated with Metallosis Secondary to Use of a Titanium Flexible Humeral Intramedullary Nail: A Case Report. J Bone Joint Surg Am 2002;84:2266-9.
8.Lin J, Hou S-M, Hang Y-S. Treatment of Humeral Shaft Delayed Unions and Nonunions with Humeral Locked Nails. The Journal of Trauma 2000;48:695-703.
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10.Patel VR, Menon DK, Pool RD, Simonis RB. Nonunion of the humerus after failure of surgical treatment. Management using the Ilizarov circular fixator. J Bone Joint Surg Br 2000;82:977-83.
11.Tomic S, Bumbasirevic M, Lesic A, Mitkovic M, Atkinson HD. Ilizarov frame fixation without bone graft for atrophic humeral shaft nonunion: 28 patients with a minimum 2-year follow-up. J Orthop Trauma 2007;21:549-56.
12.Pugh DMW, McKee MD. Advances in the Management of Humeral Nonunion. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 2003;11:48-59.
13.Ring D, Kloen P, Kadzielski J, Helfet D, Jupiter JB. Locking compression plates for osteoporotic nonunions of the diaphyseal humerus. Clin Orthop Relat Res 2004:50-4.
14.RING D, PEREY BH, JUPITER JB. The Functional Outcome of Operative Treatment of Ununited Fractures of the Humeral Diaphysis in Older Patients. J Bone Joint Surg Am 1999;81:177-90.
15.Trotter DH, Dobozi W. Nonunion of the humerus: rigid fixation, bone grafting, and adjunctive Orthop Relat Res 1986:162-8.
16.Flinkkila T, Ristiniemi J, Hamalainen M. Nonunion after intramedullary nailing of humeral shaft fractures. J Trauma 2001;50:540-4.
17.Desai KB, Ribbans WJ, Taylor GJ. Incidence of five common fracture types in an institutional epileptic population. Injury 1996;27:97-100.
18.Persson HB, Alberts KA, Farahmand BY, Tomson T. Risk of extremity fractures in adult outpatients with epilepsy. Epilepsia 2002;43:768-72.
19.Gardner MJ, Evans JM, Dunbar RP. Failure of Fracture Plate Fixation. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 2009;17:647-57.

Source(s) of Funding


We did not receive any funding from any source for this study.

Competing Interests


We all approve to upload this study in this journal and we have no competing interest/s.

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