The Marchetti-Vincenzi humeral nail--a useful device in fresh fractures

Whilst most humeral fractures may be treated by closed methods, humeral nailing has gained popularity where a surgical option is indicated. Concern has been expressed regarding placement of proximal and distal locking screws whilst the efficiency of the ingenious intra-medullary locking device of the Seidel nail has also been questioned. The Marchetti-Vincenzi nail, which "locks" proximally with the spreading of intra-medullary pins and distally with a single screw inserted via the surgical wound, apparently avoids potential neurovascular and tendon injury. Prospectively recorded data was analysed in 19 "fresh" fractures, i.e. within 3 weeks of injury, and in 13 "late" fractures (total of 32 humeral fractures) treated with the Marchetti nail. All fresh fractures thus treated progressed to union, whilst in the late fracture group there were three non-unions all of whom were in osteoprotic females. Whilst we commend the use of the Marchetti humeral nail in fresh fractures, we have reservations about its use in "late" fractures particularly where the patient is female and osteoporotic.