Marchetti nailing with decortication and bone graft in non-unions of the two upper thirds of the humerus

Method – Twelve patients with humeral shaft non-unions were treated using a Marchetti-Vicenzi nailing. The fractures site was decorticated and bone graft added.Results – Fracture healing was obtained in all cases. The mean healing time was 4.7 months. The range of motion of the shoulder was excellent in nine patients, moderate in two and poor in one. The elbow had an excellent range of motion in ten patients, moderate in one and poor in one. The functional result was excellent in nine patients, good in two, and fair in one.Conclusion – Marchetti-Vicenzi nailing with bone grafting appears to be a good method for the treatment of humeral shaft non-unions. It is technically easy and its results are satisfactory. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]