Treatment of humeral fractures by closed reduction and retrograde intramedullary ender nails

A retrospective review of 94 humeral shaft fractures stabilized with retrograde Ender nails was performed to determine the safety and efficacy of this technique. Follow-up averaged 71 weeks. Eighty-six (91.5%) healed with no additional intervention (average: 14 weeks). There were eight (8.5%) nonunions. The functional results were good in 74 (81%), fair in 12 (13%), and poor in 5 (6%). There was one radial nerve palsy secondary to the operative procedure. The reoperation rate, including the repair of nonunions, was 19%. We conclude that intramedullary Ender nail fixation is a relatively simple and quick procedure, especially for the multiply injured patient, that adequately stabilizes most humeral fractures, yielding overall good results.