• I C Nwagbara.
• National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria.
• Niger J Clin Pract. 2010 Dec 1; 13 (4): 436-40.

ObjectiveTo determine the incidence of osseous union in cases of nonunion of long bones managed by open reduction and compression plating.Patients And MethodsBetween November, 2003 and June, 2005, 53 patients with nonunion of long bones were treated by open reduction and internal fixation and followed up. The follow up period for each case was 6 months. Immediate post- operative x-ray was done in each case. Patients were seen in the post- operative period at 4 weeks, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, and 6 months. At each visit, clinical and radiological assessments were done.ResultThe male to female ratio was 3:2, and the average age at presentation was 39.7 years (range: 19-64years). The average time from injury to presentation was 19.98 months (range: 6-132months). The commonest bone involved was the humerus (18), followed by the femur (17), the Tibia (11), the ulna (5), and the radius (2). Osseous union was achieved in 44 patients (83%). There was no significant difference in incidence of osseous union among the various bones. It was observed that previous infection at the fracture site adversely affected osseous union.ConclusionThe management of nonunion in long bones by compression plating was found to be satisfactory.

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