Use of 3D Planning and Patient-specific Guides for Proximal Humerus Corrective Osteotomy Associated With Shoulder Prosthesis Implantation in Proximal Humeral Varus Malunion

Computed tomography improves the diagnostic accuracy but not the interobserver reliability of the Boileau classification of proximal humerus fracture sequelae

Background

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of computed tomography on the reliability of Boileau classification for proximal humerus fracture sequelae.

Methods

A prospective study was designed using STARD guidelines. We included all patients diagnosed with proximal humerus fracture sequelae who underwent surgery at our institution between 2017 and 2021. Preoperative radiographs and computed tomography scans were reviewed by three independent observers. Intra- and inter-observer reliability and the diagnostic accuracy of radiographs and computed tomography scans in detecting chronic dislocation, nonunion, and severe greater tuberosity dislocation were assessed.

Results

Fifty-two patients were included in the study. The overall interobserver agreement was low on both radiographs and computed tomography scans. On radiographic images, we found a sensitivity of 97%, 88.9%, and 84.1%, and a specificity of 58.3%, 40%, and 53.3% to detect chronic dislocation, nonunion, and greater tuberosity dislocation, respectively. On computed tomography scans we reported a sensitivity of 100%, 96.8%, and 93.7%, and a specificity of 91.7%, 86.7%, and 93.3% to detect chronic dislocation, nonunion, and greater tuberosity dislocation, respectively.

Discussion

Computed tomography scan was more specific than radiographs in the assessment of proximal humerus fracture sequelae. However, even using a three-dimensional evaluation of the deformity, the Boileau classification had a poor interobserver reliability.

Level of Evidence

I. Testing previously developed diagnostic criteria in a consecutive series of patients and a universally applied "gold standard."

Analysis of Bone Loss around Cemented and Biologic Prostheses after Hemiarthroplasty

Objective. To perform hemiarthroplasty (HA) on elderly patients with femoral neck fractures using cemented and biologic prostheses and then compare the bone loss around the two types of prostheses after surgery. Methods. A total of 60 patients aged over 75 years (with a mean age of 83.5 years) and suffering from femoral neck fracture (Garden types III and IV) from January 2018 to December 2020 were selected; they were randomly divided into group A ( $n=30$ , cemented prostheses) and group B ( $n=30$ , biologic prostheses) and received HA. At 1 month, 6 months, and 12 months after surgery, Harris Hip Scale (HHS) was adopted for patient evaluation, and patients’ bone mineral density (BMD) of the 7 Gruen zones around the prostheses was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA scan). Results. Both groups achieved satisfactory results postoperatively, and the Harris scores of the hips increased gradually over time, which were better in group A than in group B. Gruen zones in group A showed a slower trend of decreasing BMD than group B, and the differences were significant at zones 2, 3, and 4 ( $P<0.05$ ). Conclusion. For elderly patients with femoral neck fractures, selecting cemented prosthesis for HA better recovers the hip function and has a low rate of bone loss around the prosthesis.