OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical effects of plate and xenogenic bony plate for the treatment of nonunion of femoral shaft fracture after initial fixation with locked intramedullary nailing.

METHODSFrom February 2006 to June 2013, 21 cases with nonunion of femoral shaft fracture after initial fixation with locked intramedullary nailing were treated with femoral plate and contralateral xenogenic bony plate. There were 12 males and 9 females with an average age of 34.8 years old (ranging from 18 to 62 years). The time of nonunion was 9 to 18 months (averaged 12.8 months). The clinical outcomes of the treatment were evaluated by Merchan assessment.

RESULTSAll of the patients were primary healing, and on complications such as infection,fat embolism, internal fixation breaking or rotational deformity, shortening were occurred. All the cases were followed up for 13.2 months (ranging from 8 to 24 months). Nineteen cases were bone healed,the time of union averaged 6.2 months (ranging from 4 to 9 months). Two cases appeared delayed union and gained bony union after 7 to 13 months' observation. According to the criterion of Merchan,the results were excellent in 13 cases, good in 6 cases, poor in 2 cases.

CONCLUSIONTreatment of nonunion of femoral shaft fracture after initial locked intramedullary fixation with plate and xenogenic bony plate has advantages of high curative rate and low complications, good postoperative function recovery, it is a reliable treatment to elevate the stability of fixation and promote the osteogenesis.