OPEN REDUCTION AND INTERNAL FIXATION USING DOUBLE PLATING WITH BIOLOGICAL AND ARTIFICIAL BONE GRAFTING OF ASEPTIC NON-UNIONS OF THE DISTAL HUMERUS: CLINICAL RESULTS

Use of equine bone graft enzimatically deantigenated in the treatment of Aseptic Non-unions of the Distal Humerus

Intra-articular non-union of fractures is an uncommon but complex problem because in general, it is characterised by marked instability, pain, strength loss and significant functional limitation. The aim of this study is to report our prospective medium-term outcomes of the treatment of intra-articular, distal humeral aseptic non-unions using open reduction and internal fixation, augmented with artificial bone.

After renewed reduction, fixation was performed with two plates in orthogonal or parallel configuration, depending on the surgeon’s expertise in each specific case. Frozen, decellularised bone chips were put as an augmentation inside the humeral shaft and compressed until the canal and non-union/fracture site were filled. Only when patients denied the use of allografts, a fibular autograft was retrieved during the same surgery. Remaining cortical gaps were augmented using Bio-Gen Putty®, over the decellularised bone chips that were put inside the humeral shaft.

PRODUCTS USED: Bio-Gen Putty

Strategies in Trauma and Limb Reconstruction