Intramedullary nailing for displaced proximal humeral fractures

Is antegrade nailing a proper option in 2- and 3-part proximal humeral fractures?

PURPOSE

To report our experience with antegrade short locked intramedullary nail for treatment of proximal humeral fractures and to review the current literature.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From January 2012 to July 2013, 41 patients affected by two and three-part proximal humeral fractures were treated with surgical internal fixation with short locked intramedullary nails. Outcome analysis included standard clinical follow-up, Constant shoulder score and plain radiographs. The mean follow-up was 30 months (range 24-42). Moreover, a review of the literature was carried out.

RESULTS

The mean Constant shoulder score was 81.5, excellent functional outcomes in 24/38 patients. All the fractures healed in an average time of 3.7 months. Five patients underwent additional operations, complications included hardware penetration into the joint (n = 2), backed out screw (n = 1), shoulder impingement due to protrusion of the nail (n = 2) and superficial infection (n = 1). The literature review showed 530 patients affected by proximal humeral fracture and treated with intramedullary nail with mean age of 65 years, mean follow-up of 22.2 months and a Constant shoulder score of 72.9 points; the major complications reported were backing out of the screws, shoulder impingement and joint protrusion of the screws.

CONCLUSIONS

Antegrade short locked intramedullary nail allows stable fixation, minimal soft tissue dissection, early mobilization of the shoulder and good outcomes. It is an efficacious therapeutic solution for 2- and 3-part proximal humeral fractures.

Insertion-related pain with intramedullary nailing

The use of intramedullary nails for the treatment of long bone fractures has become increasingly frequent over the last decade with gradually expanding indications and technological advances. Improved biomechanics relative to plates and less direct fracture exposure are some of the potential benefits of intramedullary nails. However, persistent insertion-related pain is common and may limit satisfactory long term outcomes. The etiologies of this phenomenon remain unclear. Proposed theories for which there is a growing body of supporting evidence include hardware prominence, suboptimal nail entry points leading to soft tissue irritation and structural compromise, local heterotrophic ossification, implant instability with persistent fracture micromotion, and poorly defined insertional strain. Many factors that lead to insertion-related pain are iatrogenic, and careful attention to detail and refined surgical techniques will optimize outcomes.

Treatment of two-part fractures of the surgical neck of the humerus using a locked metaphyseal intramedullary nail proximally with angular stability

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the functional results from patients with surgical neck fractures treated with a locked metaphyseal intramedullary nail and angular stability.

METHODS

Twenty-two patients between the ages of 21 and 69 years were evaluated prospectively between January 2010 and January 2011. Their time taken for consolidation, age, sex, complications and functional results were correlated using the modified protocol of the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA).

RESULTS

The mean time taken for consolidation was 9.26 weeks ± confidence interval (CI) of 0.40 weeks. One case (4.5%) did not become consolidated. There were no cases of infection. There was one case (4.5%) of adhesive capsulitis with good evolution through clinical treatment. Five patients (22.7%) presented occasional mild pain and one case (4.5%) reported medium-intensity pain associated with the subacromial impact of the implant. The mean score on the modified UCLA scale was 30.4 ± CI 1.6 points, obtained at the end of 12 weeks of evaluation: 18 cases (81.8%) with "excellent" and "good" scores, three cases (13.6%) with "fair" scores and one case (4.5%) with a "poor" score.

CONCLUSION

In the group of patients evaluated, treatment of two-part surgical neck fractures by means of a locked metaphyseal intramedullary nail and angular stability demonstrated satisfactory functional results and a low complication rate, similar to what is seen in the literature.

Proximal humeral fractures in elderly patients

Proximal humeral fractures are common in the setting of osteoporosis and they represent a problem not only for increased mortality risk factors, but also in terms of costs and management. Their increased incidence has resulted in an evolution of treatment options, but currently there is no scientific evidence that defines the best treatment to choose. The choice of treatment depends on a variety of factors, such as fracture dislocation, fracture classification, bone quality, patient's age, functional requirements and general medical conditions. The debate about the treatment is still open, both for the decision between surgical and conservative treatment, and between different types of surgical techniques; nowadays it remains unclear whether surgery will produce better outcomes in function and quality of life in elderly osteoporotic patients.

Evolution of treatment of of the proximal humerus fractures (review)

The article in generalized form acquaints with the publications devoted to the bases of proximal humeral fractures treatment. A brief digression on anatomy and biomechanics of the humeral joint allows to consider the main morphological features of it. The most commonly used classification of proximal humeral fractures concisely classify many types of damage. According to the clinical and anatomical characteristics of fractures tracked the historical aspect, the development and the current state of the most common methods of treatment. In his review collected works authors share their experience in the application of methods. It allows to further the perspective directions.