The Iowa orthopaedic journal
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In Caucasians, the range of normal intracompartmental pressure of the leg is from 0 mmHg to 15 mmHg. In the literature, such measurements have not been done in Africa to identify normal leg intracompartmental pressures. We have sought to identify the normal range of pressures in such a population of Nigerians, and to demonstrate the reproducibility of the Whitesides injection technique with materials that are easily available in most hospitals so that compartment syndromes could be identified promptly and inexpensively in developing countries. ⋯ The pressure in the deep posterior compartment ranged from 3 mmHg to 14 mmHg with mean of 7.4 +/- 2.7 mmHg. The values are similar to those reported in the literature. There was no statistically significant difference between the pressures in the two compartments (p = 0.668).
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The orthopedic surgery literature is replete with techniques for managing primary humeral shaft nonunions, with success rates upwards of 90 percent with plate fixation and autogenous bone grafting. Despite this success, persistent nonunion following one or more initial failed nonunion interventions can occur, imposing a significant clinical and surgical challenge. ⋯ Six of seven patients were clinically satisfied with the outcome of surgery; one remained dissatisfied secondary to a chronic neuropathic pain syndrome. Although more complex surgical options such as Ilizarov external fixation and allograft cortical strut augmentation have been reported, and are available in the salvage situation of refractory humeral nonunions, we conclude strict application of basic nonunion principles can result in successful salvage of humerus nonunions in patients who have failed two or more prior surgical interventions.