Plate osteosynthesis for pseudarthrosis of the humeral shaft

Fractures of the humeral shaft are usually treated conservatively and the rates of union are so high that pseudarthroses are rare, with incidence ranging from 1 to 6% [1]. In the past few decades, there has been a growing trend for surgical management of humeral shaft fractures, and it seems that the number of pseudarthroses is increasing [2–4] as a result. Though intramedullary fixation is now used increasingly for fresh humeral shaft fractures, our preferred treatment for pseudarthroses is still plate osteosynthesis [4–7]. Here we have analysed retrospectively 25 patients who underwent compression-plate osteosynthesis for pseudarthrosis of the humeral shaft.