Bundle nailing of diaphyseal fractures of the humerus.


Published online: Dec 30 1995

H S Neumann, F Holmenschlager, S Winckler, and E Brug.

Klinik und Poliklinik für Unfall- und Handchirurgie, Westfälischen Wilhelms-Universität Münster.

Abstract

The principles of bundle nailing--jamming of the nails in the cortical window, jamming in the waist of the medullary cavity, spreading the bunch of nails in the metaphysis and filling up the conus of the medullary cavity with short nails-should be observed. Then this method of intramedullary osteosynthesis is of diaphyseal fractures with slight damage to the soft tissues is indicated ideally in the second to fifth sixth of the humerus. The complication rate is low. If there is a primary traumatic lesion of the radial nerve or if there are open fractures and/or multiple fractures in case of polytraumatized patients, operative stabilization is mandatory using plate osteosynthesis or external fixation.