Ender Nailing for Surgical Neck Fractures of the Humerus

Abstract

We investigated the usefulness and problems of Ender nailing for surgical neck fracture of the humerus.
We studied 16 patients who underwent Ender's nailing for surgical neck fracures of the humerus between 1988 and 1997. They consisted of 5 males and 11 females aged 20-93 years (average,65).
According to Neer's classification, the fracture types were 2-part surgical neck fractures in 14 patients and 3-part fractures of the surgical neck and greater tuberosity in 2. The follow-up period ranged 6 to 120 months (average 43). We investigated the bony union, the range of motion of the elbow and shoulder joint and the postoperative JOA scores.
All the patients obtained a bony un ion. The postoperative range of motion of shoulder joint was 132.8° in abduction and 43.4° in external rotation, and that of the elbow joint was -7.8° in extension and 135° in flexion. The postoperative JOA score of the shoulder was 85-100 points (average-91).
In conclusion, Ender's nailing is a very useful operation for surgical neck fractures of the humerus.