[Treatment experience of proximal humerus degloving fracture]

[Self-made dentation hook plate associated with hot-air balloon technique on treatment of Mutch or type isolated greater tuberosity fractures of humerus]

OBJECTIVE

To observe effectivness and safeness of self-made dentation hook plate associated with hot-air balloon technique in treating Mutch Ⅰ or Ⅱ type isolated greater tuberosity fractures of humerus.

METHODS

Between January 2016 and December 2018, 15 patients with Mutch Ⅰ or Ⅱ type greater tuberosity fractures were treated with self-made dentation hook plate associated with hot-air balloon technique. There were 9 males and 6 females with an average age of 45.1 years (range, 29-62 years). The injury causes included falling injury in 9 patients and traffic accident injury in 6 patients. According to Mutch classification, 4 cases were MutchⅠ type and 11 cases were Mutch Ⅱ type. There were 7 cases with anterior dislocation of shoulder. The time from injury to operation was 2-10 days (mean, 4.5 days).

RESULTS

All 15 patients were followed up 8-16 months, with an average of 13.5 months. There was no infection of incision, loss of reduction of fracture block, delayed union or nonunion. The average time of fracture union was 6.5 months (range, 4-8 months). One patient had axillary paralysis at 1 day after operation, and was treated with nutritional nerve therapy, the symptoms disappeared after 2.5 months. Three patients had slight subacromial impingement. After fracture healing, the hook plate was taken out in advance, and the pain and abnormal noise disappeared during shoulder abduction. At last follow-up, Costant-Murley score used to evaluate shoulder joint function was 88-100, with an average of 96.8; 8 cases were excellent, 7 cases were good, and the excellent and good rate was 100%. The internal fixator was removed after 8-16 months after the secondary operation with no re-fracture occurred.

CONCLUSION

The self-made dentation hook plate associated with hot-air balloon technique is a safe and reliable method for the treatment of Mutch Ⅰ or Ⅱ type isolated greater tuberosity fracture of humerus.

[Research progress in treatment of proximal humeral fracture with fibular allograft and locking plate]

OBJECTIVE

To review the research progress in the treatment of proximal humeral fractures with fibular allograft and locking plate.

METHODS

The literature about the treatment of proximal humeral fractures with fibular allograft and locking plate was reviewed and analyzed from the aspects such as the biomechanics, imaging prognosis, and clinical prognosis.

RESULTS

Fibular allograft and locking plate can provide effective medial support for proximal humeral fracture and increase the strength of internal fixation system. Compared with locking plate, fibular allograft combined with locking plate can maintain better humeral neck-shaft angle and the humeral head height after operation in the treatment of proximal humeral fractures, and has better shoulder mobility and shoulder joint function, and does not increase the risk of complications.

CONCLUSION

Fibular allograft combined with locking plate may be a new and effective treatment for proximal humeral fractures. However, the long-term follow-up results are insufficient, the final outcome of fibula is uncertain, and the long-term potential adverse reactions caused by this treatment are still indefinite.

[Research progress of greater tubercle fixation and rotator cuff repair in humeral head replacement]

OBJECTIVE

To summarize the research progress of the greater tubercle fixation and the rotator cuff repair in humeral head replacement.

METHODS

The literature about proximal humerus fracture and humeral head replacement in recent years was extensively consulted and analyzed.

RESULTS

The greater tubercle fixation and the attached rotator cuff repair have great influence on the function of shoulder joint after humeral head replacement. It is difficult to make an objective comparison because of lack of direct comparison between various methods, unified standards of grading, and limited number of cases.

CONCLUSION

It is an important factor of reduction and fixation of greater tubercle to obtain better effectiveness in humeral head replacement. However, one-stage repair of rotator cuff is more important than greater tubercle fixation for functional recovery of shoulder joint.

[Effectiveness of simultaneous versus delayed repair of combined full-thickness rotator cuff rupture in proximal humerus fracture]

Objective

To compare the effectiveness of simultaneous and delayed repair of combined full-thickness rotator cuff rupture in proximal humerus fracture.

Methods

Between January 2015 and January 2017, 44 patients with proximal humerus fractures complicated with full-thickness rotator cuff injuries were included. Twenty-four patients underwent open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) and rotator cuff repair simultaneously (simultaneous operation group), and 20 patients underwent delayed arthroscopic rotator cuff repair more than 90 days after ORIF (delayed operation group). There was no significant difference in gender, age, cause of injury, and side of injury between the two groups ( P>0.05). The fracture healing was observed by X-ray films. The shoulder function was assessed at 3, 6, and 12 months after operation by using the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) score.

Results

All incisions healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 12-24 months (mean, 17 months). Fractures all healed at 3 months after operation in simultaneous operation group. According to UCLA score, the patients had achieved significantly better outcomes in function, active forward flexion, strength of forward flexion, and subjective satisfaction in simultaneous operation group than in delayed operation group at 3, 6, and 12 months after operation ( P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in pain between the two groups ( P>0.05).

Conclusion

For patients with proximal humerus fracture complicated with full-thickness rotator cuff rupture, performing ORIF and simultaneous repair of rotator cuff can improve shoulder function and achieve better effectiveness when compared with delayed repair of rotator cuff.

[Effectiveness of open reduction and locking compression hook plate in treatment of isolated humeral greater tuberosity fractures]

Objective

To observe the effectiveness of locking compression hook plate in treatment of humeral greater tuberosity fractures.

Methods

Between March 2014 and September 2017, 16 patients with isolated humeral greater tuberosity fractures were terated with open reduction and internal fixation with locking compression hook plates. There were 11 males and 5 females, with an average age of 38.4 years (range, 22-67 years). The cause of injury was falling injury in 13 cases and sport injury in 3 cases. All patients were closed fractures. Of all patients, 14 patients accompanied with shoulder joint dislocations. CT scan showed the average displacement of fragment was 12.6 mm (range, 8-21 mm) after reduction. All patients began passive functional exercise at 3 days after operation.

Results

Primary healing of the incisons achieved in all patients, without complications such as infection and nerve injury. All patients were followed up 12-20 months (mean, 15.3 months). At 3 months after operation, X-ray film showed that all fractures achieved bone union, all of which met the imaging anatomical reduction standard. According to the Neer scoring criteria, 11 cases were excellent and 5 cases were good at last follow-up. One patint presented slight pain of shoulder joint and mild activity limitation, which relieved after 1 year.

Conclusion

The method of open reduction and locking compression hook plate internal fixation for isolated humeral greater tuberosity fractures has advantages, such as less intraoperative hemorrhage, mild postoperative pain, firm fixation, and allowing patients to perform functional exercise earlier, which is conducive to shoulder functional recovery and obtain satisfactory effectiveness.