Nonunion of the humerus: rigid fixation, bone grafting, and adjunctive bone cement.

Five patients with humeral nonunions were treated by open reduction and internal fixation with compression plating and adjunctive methylmethacrylate inserted by use of several techniques to gain secure screw purchase in markedly osteoporotic bone. The rigid fixation was supplemented in each case with cortical-cancellous bone grafting. Postoperative abduction splinting was applied in each case. The average follow-up examination was 24 months, with all five nonunions having healed at an average of five months postoperation. The shoulder arc of motion averaged 120 degrees, and the elbow arc of motion averaged 125 degrees.