Posterior interoseous nerve (PIN) syndrome is an entrapment of the deep branch of the radial nerve just distal to the elbow joint. It may result in the paresis or paralysis of the fingers and thumb extensor muscles.

We present a review of 26 cases of PIN entrapment syndrome, diagnosed an treated over a ten years period form 1996 to 2005. Their ages ranged form 12 to 57 years, they were 18 men and 8 women. The interval between, the onset or paralysis and operation ranged from 4 months to 1 year. All the patients were diagnosed preoperatively as having PIN palsy from physical examination and electromyographic (EMG) studies of the posterior interoseous innervated muscles and all were treated by operation.

The cause of compression was, ganglia in four cases, fascia thickening at the arcad of frohse in six cases, the radial recurrent vessels in three cases, lipoma in four cases, dislocated head of the radius in two cases, infamed synovium in four cases, tumour in two cases, and Intraneural Perineurioma in one case. The periods of postoperative observation were from 1 to 10 years. The paralysis recovered completely by the six postoperative months in all cases except one girl with intraneural peri-neurioma.

Three patients developed mild reflex sympathetic dystrophy which resolved with physiotherapy and auxilary blocks. Two patients developed hyperaesthesia in the distribution of the superficial radial nerve which recovered in a few weeks.

Having arrived at a diagnosis of PIN syndrome, it is important to select the correct level for the release of the radial nerve. Fair or poor results can be due to incorrect diagnosis, incomplete release or irreversible nerve injury.

Acute fractures of the humeral shaft are usually managed conservatively. The rate of union is high, whereas that of nonunion ranges from 1 – 6%. Various risk factors for nonunion have been identified, including the following: open fracture, mid shaft fracture, transverse or short-oblique fracture, comminuted fracture, unstable fixation, fracture gap.

This paper evaluates the results of treatment of humeral shaft fracture by open reduction and internal fixation with DCP, supplemented with cancelous bone graft but not in all cases.

One hundred and five cases of nonunion of a humeral shaft fracture between 1988 and 2006 were analyzed retrospectively. The study population comprised 66 males and 39 females with an average of 46.2 years (range, 17 – 81 years). Sixty seven fractures were defined as atrophic nonunion, and 20 as hypertrophic nonunion, whereas 18 could not be defined clearly. All the fractures were managed by open reduction and internal fixaztion with DCP and cancelous bone graft. The mean follow up period was 20 months (range, 14 – 28 months).

All nonunion fractures united within an average of 16 weeks (range 10–26 weeks).

Complications included 4 patients with temporary radial nerve palsies, and 3 patients with wound infections. At the final follow-up shoulder and elbow functions of the operated limbs were all satisfactory.

Fixation by DCP with supplemental cancellous bone graft is a reliable and effective treatment for nonunion of a humeral shaft fracture