Objective To evaluate the cl inical and radiological outcomes of minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) with locking compression plate (LCP) in the treatment of proximal humeral shaft fracture. Methods From July 2004 to April 2008, 26 patients with displaced fractures of the proximal humeral shaft were recruited, including 8 males and 18 females. Age of patients averaged 66 years old (range, 34-82 years old). According to AO classification, there were 4 cases of type A1, 2 cases of type A2, 8 cases of type B1, 4 cases of type B2, 2 cases of type B3, 4 cases of type C1 and 2 cases of type C2. The time from injury to surgery averaged 2 days (range, 1-5 days). There were 8 osteoporotic fractures. Results All surgical wound healed primarily, and there was no wound infection. Three patients had postoperative radial nerve neurapraxia, which recovered at 4, 6, 8 months respectively. All patients were followed up for 6-24 months with an average of 14.1 months. Radiological examination revealed bony union within 6 months in 25 cases. There was 1 delayed union which remained asymptomatic and eventually healed at 8 months with acceptable Constant-Murley score. There were 3 cases of shoulder impingement syndrome diagnosed at 3 months post-operatively. After implant removal, they all achieved an acceptable Constant-Murley score. According to Constant-Murley scoring system, there were 11 excellent, 10 good and 5 acceptable results. The excellent or good rate was 80.8%. Conclusion MIPO technique using LCP is an effective method to treat proximal humeral shaft fractures, which facil itates functional recovery of the shoulder joint. During the surgery, it is important to achieve a good fracture reduction and to avoid compl ications.
Objective To review the outcomes of geriatric distal humeral fracture fixed with locking compression plate (LCP). Methods From January 2005 to December 2007, 24 patients (20 females and 4 males) with distal humeral fracture underwent open reduction and internal fixation with LCP. Their average age was 75.5 years old, ranged from 60 to 93 years old. Fracture was caused by injury from fall in 22 cases, by traffic accident in 1 case, and by direct hit in 1 case. There were 12 cases of type A2, 2 cases of type A3, 2 cases of type B1, 2 cases of type C1, 2 cases of type C2, 4 cases of type C3 fractures according to AO/ASIF classification. X-ray films in AP and lateral view were taken preoperatively. CT scan with three dimensional reconstructions was done in more comminuted fracture only. Open reduction with triceps sparingtechnique was used in all except type B fracture, and olecranon osteotomy was considered only in more comminuted C3fracture. The average interval between injury and operation was 3 days (range, 1-6 days). Outcome measures includedpain assessment, range of motion, and Mayo elbow performance score and findings at 1 year follow-up. Results Theaverage length of follow-up was 25 months (range, 12-48 months). All 24 fractures were healed within 6 months with anaverage of about 4 months. At 1 year follow-up, 83% (n=20) of patients felt no pain and 17% (n=4) of patients had mildpain; 83% of patient can gain a flexion range of more than 100°; according to Mayo elbow performance score, the meanscores of type A, B and C fracture groups were 97, 85, and 89, respectively, and the post-operative performance of typeA fracture was significantly better than that of type B and C (P=0.034). Four patients had postoperative compl ications.Conclusion Open reduction and internal fixation of geriatric distal humeral fracture can achieve relatively good functionalresult and bony union despite of age.
Objective To determine the cl inical results of locking plate system in the treatment of distal radial fractures. Methods From May 2004 to November 2006, 75 patients were treated with 2.4 mm locking plate system. There were 41 males and 34 females, with a mean age of 51 years old (range, 13-82 years old). The locations were left side in 34 casesand right side in 41 cases. The cause of injury was a low energy fall in 49 cases, fall ing from height in 14 cases, traffic accident in 6 cases and sports injuries in 6 cases. All patients were diagnosed as having closed fracture. According to Müller-AO classification, there were 14 cases(18.7%) of type A, 5 cases(6.7%) of type B, and 56 cases(74.6%) of type C. The time from injury to operation was 5 hours to 27 days (mean 6 days). Results A total of 75 patients were followed up at 3 months, 71 patients at 6 months, 68 patients at 1 year and 51 patients at 2 years. Heal ing by first intention of incision was achieved in 73 cases, and infection occurred in 2 cases. Fracture reduction failed at 1 month, 3 months and 6 months in 1 case, respectively; 1 case received plaster fixation and 2 cases received re-fixation and autograft of il ium; and fracture healed in 3 cases at last follow-up. Two patients complained of skin numbness at site of superficial branch of radial nerve after 1 day, 1 patient had wound pain after operation, and 1 patient had infection of tendon at 3 days and 5 days in 1 case respectively. At last follow-up, the ranges of motion of wrist joint were (80 ± 9)° for pronation, (86 ± 7)° for supination, (57 ± 10)° for dorsal flexion, (51 ± 13)° for palmar flexion, (18 ± 7)° for radial incl ination, and (28 ± 7)° for ulnar deviation. According to modified Green scoring, the results were excellent in 66 cases, good in 6 cases and poor in 3 cases. At last follow-up, according to Knirk criterion for osteoarthritis, there were 22 cases of grade I and 5 cases of grade II, and all were classified as type C. Conclusion Internal fixation of distal radial fractures with 2.4 mm locking plate system provided a stable fixation with good cl inical outcomes.