Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of locking plates for Neer 3- and 4-part proximal humerus fractures. Methods A retrospective analysis was made on the clinical data of 77 patients with 3- or 4-part proximal humerus fractures, who underwent open reduction and internal fixation of locking plates and were followed up more than 12 months between July 2008 and May 2011. There were 39 males and 38 females with an average age of 54.2 years (range, 18-81 years). Fractures were caused by falling in 47 cases, by traffic accident in 16 cases, by falling from height in 4 cases, by sporting in 5 cases, and by other reasons in 5 cases. The time between injury and operation was 2-16 days (mean, 4.5 days). According to Neer classification, there were 54 cases of 3-part fracture and 23 cases of 4-part fracture. The Constant scores, visual analogue score (VAS), and the complications were evaluated during follow-up. Results After operation, healing of incisions by first intention was obtained in 76 cases and healing by second intention in 1 case. All patients were followed up 12-36 months (mean, 18.5 months). At last follow-up, the Constant score was 71.1 ± 11.9; the results were excellent in 18 cases, good in 24 cases, fair in 25 cases, and poor in 10 cases with an excellent and good rate of 54.5%. The VAS score was 2.8 ± 2.2. Bone nonunion occurred in 2 cases; the other patients had bone union within 2-6 months (mean, 3.2 months). The complications occurred in 25 cases (32.5%). Revision surgery was performed in 15 patients (19.5%). Conclusion The treatment of Neer 3- and 4-part proximal humerus fractures remains challenging. Anatomic reduction, stable fixation, and reduced humeral head blood supply disruption may lead to a satisfactory outcome.
Objective To investigate the key parameters of three-dimensional anatomy of the proximal humerus and compare the differences between male and female, and between left and right sides in Chinese by volume rendering technique with multi-slice spiral CT (MSCT) so as to provide a reference for a new prosthesis of the proximal humerus which can adjust to the anatomical characteristics of Chinese. Methods A total of 100 healthy volunteers were collected from Chongqing of China, including 59 males and 41 females with an average age of 40.4 years (range, 21-57 years). The humeral retroversion angle (RA), neck-shaft angle (NSA), medial offset (MO), and posterior offset (PO) were measured by volume rendering technique with MSCT. The average values were compared between male and female and between left and right sides, the correlation of these parameters was also analysed. Results In 100 volunteers (200 sides), the RA was (19.9 ± 10.6)°, the NSA was (134.7 ± 3.8)°, the MO was (4.0 ± 1.1) mm, and the PO was (2.6 ± 1.3) mm. There were significant differences in RA and MO between left and right sides (Plt; 0.05); there was no significant difference in NSA and PO between left and right sides (P gt; 0.05). The PO and RA of both sides in male were significantly larger than those in female (P lt; 0.05); the NSA and MO in male were similar to those in female (P gt;0.05). PO was correlated positively with RA (r=0.617, P=0.000); MO was not correlated with NSA (r= —0.124, P=0.081). Conclusion Because of significant side differences in RA and MO, and significant gender differences in RA and PO, the differences should be considered in the design of new proximal humeral prosthesis and proximal humerus reconstruction.
Objective To investigate the therapeutic effect of long PHILOS locking compression plate on the proximal humerus and humeral shaft fractures. Methods From March 2005 to December 2007, 35 cases with the proximal humerus and humeral shaft fractures were treated with long PHILOS locking compression plate, including 16 males and 19 females aged 29-68 years old (average 54.5 years old). There were 34 cases of fresh and close fracture, and the time from injury to operation was 3-9 days. One case had delayed union of fracture 5 months after receiving T-plates and internal fixation with steel plate. For the proximal humerus fracture, 7 cases had 2 parts of fracture, 19 had 3 parts of fracture, and 9 had 4 parts of fracture according to Neer classification; while for the humeral shaft fracture, 3 cases were classified as A1, 5 as A2, 10 as B1, 3 as B2, 6 as B3, 7 as C1 and 1 as C3 according to AO classification. Postoperatively, Neer scoring system was employed to evaluate the function of shoulder joint and HSS scoring system was adopted to evaluate the function of elbow joint. Results All incisions healed by first intension, and 30 cases were followed up for 12-33 months (average 18.2 months). Postoperatively, 2 cases had symptoms of radial nerve paralysis, which disappeared within 3 weeks; 1 case suffered from humeral head necrosis and received the secondary operation of humeral head replacement; humeral head was reduced evenly in 1 case, and 2 cases felt chronic sl ight pain in shoulder joints and received no further treatment. X-ray films showed 29 cases had fracture heal ing 6 months after operation, and all the patients had bone union 12 months after operation except 1 case receiving humeral head replacement. No such compl ications as screw lossening and internal fixation loosening occurred. By Neer scoring system, 6 cases were graded as excellent, 19 as good, 3 as fair, 2 as poor, and the excellent and good rate was 83.3%. By HSS scoring system, 16 cases were gradedas excellent, 14 as good, and the excellent and good rate was 100%. Conclusion Applying long PHILOS locking compression plate in the treatment of the proximal humerus and humeral shaft fractures provides a sol id fixation and high satisfactory rate with minor compl ications.
Objective To compare the efficacy and indication of the three different surgical methods in the treatment of the senile osteoporotic comminuted proximal humerus fracture. Methods From January 2006 to April 2008, 70 senile patients with osteoporotic comminuted proximal humerus fracture were randomly divided into three groups to receive different surgical methods. There were 21 patients in the group A receiving Kirschner tension band or screw internal fixation, 37 patients in group B receiving internal fixation of locking proximal humeral plate, and 12 patients in group C receiving humeral head replacement. There were 36 males and 34 females aged 53-76 years old (average 61.9 years old). All the fractureswere closed, osteoporotic, and III and IV-part according to Neer classification. The disease course was 1-8 days (average 2.8 days). There was no significant difference among three groups in terms of basel ine information (P gt; 0.05). The effective antiosteoporosis therapy was given during perioperative period. Results All the incision healed by first intention. All patients reached anatomical or almost anatomical reduction without compl ications such as postoperative infection, neurovascular injury, and nonunion of bone. Seventy patients were followed up for 9-20 months (average 11.5 months). The heal ing time of the fracture was 8-12 weeks in group A and group B, the average heal ing time was 10.5 weeks in group A and 10 weeks in group B, and there was no significant difference between two groups (P gt; 0.05). Group C presented with no sign of prosthesis loosening or shoulder dislocation. Six cases in group A suffered from frozen shoulder, pain or acromion impingement syndrome 6 months after operation and obtained various degrees of improvement via functional exercises. One of them had humeral head avascular necrosis 12 months later and achieved fair recovery after performing humeral head replacement. Two cases in group B had frozen and painful shoulder 6 months after operation and achieved fair recovery after functional exercises. One cases in group C had frozen shoulder and poor performance of abduction and upl ifting and achieved improvement after exercises. The rest patients achieved satisfactory curative effects. The incidence of compl ication was 28.6% in group A, 5.4% in group B, and 8.3% in group C. The incidence of complication in group A was significantly higher than that of group B and group C (P lt; 0.05), and there was no significant difference between group B and group C (P gt; 0.05). Neer scale system was adopted to evaluate the postoperative shoulder function, the excellent and good rate was 66.7% in group A, 78.4% in group B, and 83.3% in group C. The excellent and good rate in group A was significantly less than that of group B and group C (P lt; 0.05), and there was no significant difference between group B and group C (P gt; 0.05). Conclusion The senile osteoporotic comminuted proximal humerus fracture treated by surgery can obtain satisfied results. Most patients can use locking plate fixation. Those with poor general condition can use Kirschner wire fixation with tension band or screws, but this method is subject to certain constraints. For some elder patients with humeral head necrosis and humeral head crushed, priority should be given to the use of humeral head replacement.
Objective To study the operative effect and complication of the prosthesis replacement of the proximal humerus with malignant tumor. Methods From October 1998 to August 2003, the prosthesis replacement was performed to treat the proximal femur with malignant tumor in 4 patients, including 2 patients with osteosarcoma (Enneking staging,ⅡA) and 2 patients with giancell tumor of the bone (ⅡA,ⅡB). By the International Society of Limb Salvage(ISOLS) criterion, the 2 cases of osteosarcoma were preoperatively scored as 4 and 5 points, and 2 cases of giant cell tumor of the bone were scored as 9 and 11 points. The patients’ psychological conditions as well as their limb pain, shape, locality, activity, and function werealso observed. Results The follow-up for 24-58 months (mean, 44 months) showed that there was no local recurrence or infection in all the patients except onepatient who had the loosening of the screws for the fixation 17 months after operation and had no treatment. After operation, all the patients had a better postoperative extention angle from 22° to 41°(mean, 25°), bending angle from 29° to 80°（mean, 35°）, abduction angle from 5° to 28°, and circumgyrate angle from 15° to 22° in their shoulder joints. However, the shoulder joint function was still unstable to some extent and the joints had a decreased strength. By the criterion formulated by the ISOLS, the postoperative score for assessing the 2 patientswith osteosarcoma was increased by 16 points when compared with the preoperative score; the score for the 2 patients with giant cell tumor of the bone was increased by 9.5 points.Conclusion The prosthesis replacement to treat the malignant tumor of the proximal humerus is the good method of choice and has a good therapeutic result; however, there are more complications and so the method should be cautiously employed in the clinical practice.
ObjectiveTo analyze the outcome and prognostic factors of using locking plate for treating proximal humerus fracture. MethodsBetween January 2005 and January 2012, 45 aged patients with a displaced 3-part or 4-part fracture of the proximal humerus were treated by locking plate. Range of motion and Constant-Mudey score were observed during the follow-up. ResultsForty-three patients were followed up from 12 to 48 months with an average of 18 months. The mean final Constant-Mudey score was 72.3±9.5 and 6 of them needed a second surgery. In addition to fracture type, other prognostic factors included redisplacement (4 cases, 9.3%), nonunion (3 cases, 7.0%), crashing (3 cases, 7.0%), necrosis of the humeral head (6 cases, 14.0%) and screw cut-out (5 cases, 11.6%). Among the patients with disrupted medial calcar, 4 needed a second surgery at the final follow-up, 3 had redisplacement, 2 had nonunion, and 2 had screw cut-out. ConclusionLocked screw-plates provide more secure fixation of fracture in aged patients, but the complication rate remains high. We suggest anatomic reduction, and plate and screws position, length of the screws, the medial cortical contact and stability may be the chief prognostic factors affecting the shoulder function following a proximal humeral fracture.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of open reduction and internal fixation with locking anatomical plate for treating valgus impacted proximal humerus fracture. MethodsA retrospective analysis was made on the clinical data of 38 patients with valgus impacted proximal humerus fracture who underwent open reduction and internal fixation with locking anatomical plate between January 2009 and January 2014. There were 25 males and 13 females, aged from 47 to 63 years (mean, 52.3 years); the left and the right sides were involved in 18 and 20 cases, respectively. The causes of fracture included high falling injury in 10 cases, traffic accident injury in 15 cases, and falling injury in 13 cases. The time between injury and operation was 5-10 days (mean, 7.5 days). The collodiaphyseal angle was 160-200° (mean, 176°) on X-ray films. ResultsAll incisions healed by first intention, and there was no early complication related to operation. All these patients were followed up 12-30 months (mean, 18 months). X-ray film showed that clinical healing time of fracture was 10-16 weeks after operation (mean, 12 weeks); at 12 months after operation, the collodiaphyseal angle recovered to 120-145° (mean, 135°). During follow-up, no loss of fracture reduction and no loosening of internal fixation were observed. At 10-12 months, osteonecrosis of the humeral head occurred in 3 cases (7.9%), including 2 cases of Cruess stageⅢand 1 case of Cruess stageⅣ. At last follow-up, the Constant shoulder joint scores were 56-95 (mean, 82.6); the results were excellent in 10 cases, good in 15 cases, fair in 9 cases, and poor in 4 cases, with an excellent and good rate of 66%. Visual analogue scale (VAS) scores were 0-6 (mean, 0.9). ConclusionIt can achieve a comparatively satisfactory clinical result to use open reduction and internal fixation with locking anatomical plate for treating valgus impacted proximal humerus fracture.
ObjectiveTo analyze the effectiveness of proximal humeral internal locking system (Philos) plate for proximal humerus fracture. MethodsThirty-three patients with proximal humerus fracture were treated with open reduction and internal fixation with Philos plate between January 2009 and January 2014. There were 19 males and 14 females, aged 23-89 years (mean, 56.6 years). The left side was involved in 15 cases, and the right side in 18 cases. The injury causes included falling in 20 cases and traffic accident in 13 cases. All cases received X-ray and CT scan and three-dimensional reconstruction before operation. According to the Neer classification, 8 cases were rated as two-part fractures, 15 cases as three-part fractures, and 10 cases as four-part fractures. The interval time between injury and surgery was 1-7 days (mean, 3.67 days). Postoperative functional outcome was evaluated using the Constant-Murley score. ResultsInfection and liquefaction occurred in 2 cases respectively, which was cured after corresponding treatment; primary healing of wound was obtained in the other 29 cases. Five patients had shoulder pain. The patients were followed up 11-47 months (mean, 33 months). The mean time of fracture union was 7.5 months (range, 5-9 months) on the X-ray films. Humeral head necrosis occurred in 2 patients with Neer four-part fractures, and internal fixation failure occurred in 3 patients (2 screw broken and 1 plate broken) with four-part fractures (2 cases) and three-part fractures (1 case), which was cured after conservative treatment. At last follow-up, the mean Constant-Murley score was 70.5 (range, 42-90); the results were excellent in 3 cases, good in 21 cases, moderate in 6 cases, and poor in 3 cases. ConclusionSatisfactory results can be expected for proximal humeral fracture by using of the proximal humeral internal locking system plate based on strict indication and early rehabilitation training.
Objective To explore the feasibility and short-term effectiveness of the modified radical resection and reconstruction in the treatment of malignant proximal humerus tumor. Methods The relevant anatomic data from 30 normal adult shoulder joint MRI were measured to analyze the feasibility of modified radical resection and reconstruction surgery in the treatment of malignant proximal humerus tumor. Five patients with malignant proximal humerus tumor were treated by using the modified radical resection and reconstruction surgery between March 2012 and January 2016. There were 1 male and 4 females, aged from 9 to 69 years (median, 46 years). There were 4 cases of osteosarcoma (Enneking IIA in 2 cases and Enneking IIB in 2 cases) and 1 case of metastatic carcinoma (moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma). The disease duration was 7 to 12 months (mean, 9 months). Recurrence of tumor was observed after operation, and the shoulder function was assessed according to Enneking skeletal muscle tumor function scoring system. Results Radiographic results showed that modified radical resection and reconstruction surgery was feasible, which was in allowable range of the maximum longitudinal diameter ( < 29.8 mm) and depth ( < 4 mm). The operation was successfully completed in all 5 cases, and pathological examination suggested that purposes of radical resection had achieved. All patients were followed up 3 to 49 months (mean, 15.6 months). One patient had local recurrence at 12 months after operation, and a shoulder joint amputation was performed; the other 4 patients had good prosthesis survival. At last follow-up, the function of the shoulder joint was obviously recovered when compared with preoperative function; Enneking's skeletal muscle tumor function score was 25.8 points (range, 24 to 27 points). Conclusion Modified radical resection and reconstruction surgery is feasible for the treatment of proximal humerus tumor, and it can maintain a good early shoulder function.
Objective To summarize a new type of proximal humerus fracture—proximal humerus degloving fracture, and discuss its injury mechanism, classification criteria, and treatment methods. Methods The clinical data of 23 patients with proximal humerus degloving fracture between September 2009 and September 2016 was retrospectively analyzed. There were 14 males and 9 females, with an average age of 39.7 years (range, 21-66 years). The causes of injury was sprain in 2 cases, falling from height in 8 cases, and traffic accident in 13 cases. The time from injury to operation was 3-116 days (mean, 17.1 days). There were 2 cases of posterior dislocation of humeral head, 3 cases of anterior dislocation of humeral head, 3 cases of other fractures, and 2 cases of brachial plexus injury. All patients had varying degrees of rotator cuff injuries. According to the self-determined fracture classification criteria, there were 6 cases of internal rotation type, 14 cases of external rotation type, and 3 cases of abduction type. All patients underwent open reduction and internal fixation. Results All patients were followed up 9-24 months (mean, 17 months). All incisions healed by the first intention. X-ray films showed that all fractures healed at 3-5 months after operation (mean, 3.6 months). According to the Neer’s shoulder functional evaluation criteria at 6 months, the shoulder function was rated as excellent in 16 cases, good in 5 cases, fair in 1 case, and poor in 1 case, and the excellent and good rate was 84.6%. The rotator cuff tear recurred in 1 case and was repaired again. Conclusion The injury mechanism of proximal humerus degloving fracture may be the extreme internal rotation, extreme external rotation, or extreme abduction. Reduction and internal fixation is an effective treatment. The focus of the treatment is not only the fixation of the fracture, but also the repair and reconstruction of the rotator cuff.