Closed humeral shaft fractures treated by elastic intramedullary retrograde nail.

25 humeral shaft fractures operated on at our institute with the intramedullary elastic Marchetti-Vicenzi nail were reviewed. Three were pathologic fractures. Patients mean age was 48 ranging from 13 to 95 years. The patients were followed until consolidation and shoulder and elbow function were evaluated with respectively the Constant and the Mayo Clinic score. All the fractures eventually healed with good clinical results. There were no major complications during nail insertion. The M-V nail has been shown to be a practical and reliable device, characterised by both an easy technique and a stable fixation, with a low complication rate and low X-rays exposure times. The choice of an elastic unreamed intramedullary nail, with a retrograde insertion, that allows a solid for proximal fixation by means of a bundle of divergent pins, has proven to be useful and safe for shoulder function.