STABILISATION OF HUMERAL FRACTURES USING THE FIXION HUMERAL INTRAMEDULLARY NAILING SYSTEM

Introduction: The FIXION® IM HUMERUS and FIXION®IL HUMERUS are expandable intramedullary nails, designed for humeral fractures. We present our results with this new type of intramedullary nailing system. Materials and Methods: The FIXION® HUMERUS NAILING SYSTEM consists of an expandable nail. Once in position, the nail expands by inflation of saline under controlled pressure. The FIXION® IM HUMERUS nail is inserted without reaming and no interlocking screws are required, thus reducing x-ray exposure both of operating room staff and patients as well as reducing operation time. The FIXION® IL HUMERUS included the option for proximal interlocking screws and is designed for proximal or distal humeral fractures. Results: We have used the system to stabilize humeral fractures with 53 patients since May 2002. Postoperative radiographic evaluation demonstrated correct axial alignment in all cases. Until now, our patients have made a satisfactory recovery with early pain-free mobilisation. Good callus formation was noted about 10 weeks after the procedure. As complications we also saw 3 non unions with the FIXION® IM HUMERUS, no infections or radial nerve injuries and no adverse events after the revision of the non unions to a FIXION® IL HUMERUS. Conclusion: The FIXION® HUMERAL NAILING SYSTEM offers an innovative and effective device for minimally invasive and biological surgery with substantially less O.R. and fluoroscopy times, with a low rate of complications.