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OrthoVellum

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Trauma
intermediate
X-Type

Humeral Shaft Nonunion

Upper Extremity Trauma

A 52-year-old man presents 9 months after a transverse mid-shaft humeral fracture initially treated with a functional brace. He has persistent arm pain, motion at the fracture site, and inability to perform his work as a carpenter. X-rays show gap at the fracture site with sclerotic, rounded bone ends and no callus formation. There is 2cm of bone shortening. Regarding humeral shaft nonunion:

Mark each as TRUE or FALSE

A

Humeral shaft nonunion is defined as failure of fracture healing at 6-9 months with no radiographic ...

B

Classification is by biologic potential: hypertrophic nonunion (adequate blood supply, abundant call...

C

Humeral shaft nonunion is defined as failure to heal at 3 months; oblique fractures have the highest...

D

Treatment for hypertrophic nonunion is compression plating (typically broad 4.5mm DCP or LCP) to pro...

E

Radial nerve must be identified and protected during plating; anterolateral approach exposes the ner...

Answer the questions to see explanations

Click T (True) or F (False) for each option