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Updated: Aug 19, 2026
Creating Rigidly Stabilized Fractures for Assessing Intramembranous Ossification, Distraction Osteogenesis, or Healing of Critical Sized Defects
Published on: April 11, 2012
[Repair of refractory bone nonunion in the distal humerus]
Xingyan Liu1, Baofeng Ge, Ping Zhen
1Department of Orthopedics, Lanzhou General Hospital of PLA, Lanzhou Gansu 730050, P R China.
Objective:
To investigate the effect of microsurgical repair of refractory bone defects and nonunion in distal humerus.
Methods:
Twelve cases of bone defects and nonunion in distal humerus were repaired with free vascularised fibular graft and fixed with the anatomical bone plate. Of the 12 cases, 8 had pseudarthrosis, and 4 had bone defects 3-5 cm. Fibular graft ranged from 5-15 cm, 8.5 cm in average.
Results:
After a follow-up of 3-18 months, 8.5 months in average, all cases of free vascularised fibular graft healed within 3-8 months. The fibular graft thickened as time passed. Normal recessive osseous elbow joint, improvement in the inflection and extension of elbow joint, and normal revolving of forearm were attained. The short of limbs were corrected. Satisfactory functions of supporting and fine operation were attained.
Conclusion:
With the support of anatomical bone plate, the fibular graft can help the recovery of joint function and repair bone defects and nonunion as to avoid joint replacement with prosthesis.
