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[Crossed screw osteosynthesis of proximal humerus fractures].

Between March 1997 and October 1999 thirty-one patients with displaced proximal humeral fractures were treated with crossed screw osteosynthesis. Insertion of the screws was realized by using a deltoideo-pectoral approach placing the screws anteriorly and posteriorly in a crossed manner from the distal fragment into the humeral head. Additionally, in all two-part-fractures a tension band was applied. In all three-part-fractures, the greater tuberosity was reattached by additional screws. In 21 patients (14 female, 7 male, median age 62 years, 18-86) a clinical and radiological follow-up (median 18 months, 10-29) was obtained. Fractures were classified as two-part-fractures in 10 patients and as three-part-fractures in 11 patients. According to the Constant-Score, "excellent" and "good" results were achieved in 15 patients, "moderate" results were found in 3 patients. However, in 3 patients results were only "poor" (1 two-part-, 2 three-part-fractures). The complication rate was 29% (premature hardware removal due to head perforation in 3 cases; humeral head necrosis necessitating prosthetic replacement in 2 patients; secondary displacement in 1 case). Crossed screw osteosynthesis represents an justified alternative in the surgical treatment of displaced proximal humeral fractures permitting early functional therapy.

Adolescent↗

The injury mechanisms of osteoporotic upper extremity fractures among older adults: a controlled study of 287 consecutive patients and their 108 controls.

The risk factors for falls in older adults are well known but knowledge on the direct injury mechanisms that result in various osteoporotic fractures has been very sparse. The purpose of this study was therefore to clarify the injury mechanisms of osteoporotic upper extremity fractures of older adults and to compare these mechanisms with those of the control fallers, and in this way to obtain reliable insight into the etiology and pathogenesis of upper extremity fractures and thus to enable fracture prevention. One hundred and twelve patients with a fresh fracture of the proximal humerus, 65 patients with an elbow fracture, 110 patients with a wrist fracture and 108 controls (no fracture, or a fracture other than the case fracture) were interviewed and examined between September 1995 and December 1997. The inclusion criteria of the subjects were that the patient was 50 years of age or older at the time of the accident, and that the fracture/injury had occurred as a result of low-energy trauma (typically a fall from standing height or less) within a week before the interview and examination. In 97% of patients with a proximal humerus or elbow fracture, and in all patients (100%) with a wrist fracture, the fracture was a result of a fall. In the control group this figure was 93%. In a polychotomous logistic regression analysis the intergroup differences in the fall directions (adjusted by gender, age and functional capacity) were statistically highly significant (chi 2 = 43.6, d.f. = 15, p < 0.001). Most of the patients with a proximal humerus fracture or elbow fracture reported that they had fallen 'obliquely forward' (43% and 38%) or 'to the side' (29% and 26%), whereas in the wrist fracture group the main fall direction was also 'obliquely forward' (34%) but the other fall directions (i.e., 'forward', 'to the side', 'obliquely backward' and 'backward') were quite equally represented (13-19%). The odds ratio (OR) for an obliquely forward fall resulting in a proximal humerus fracture was 3.5 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.4-9.2), as compared with the fall directions of the controls and the 'obliquely backward' fall direction. In a logistic regression analysis the patients with a wrist fracture managed to break their fall (e.g., with an outstretched arm) more frequently than the patients in the other groups (OR 3.9; 95% CI 2.0-7.3). The patients with a proximal humerus fracture, in turn, managed to break their fall less frequently than the controls (OR 0.33; 95% CI 0.14-0.80). The same was true of the patients with an elbow fracture, although the difference was not significant (OR 0.49%; 95% CI 0.19-1.3). As objective evidence for a direct fall-induced impact on the fracture site, 68% of patients with a proximal humerus fracture revealed a fresh subcutaneous hematoma on the shoulder/upper arm, while such a hematoma was rare in the controls (2%) (p < 0.001). Correspondingly, 62% of patients with an elbow fracture showed a similar hematoma on the elbow area, while this was seen in none of the controls (p < 0.001). In patients with a wrist fracture a hand/wrist hematoma was seen in 58% of the victims, as compared with 18% of the controls (p < 0.001). The study shows that the most typical osteoporotic upper extremity fractures of older adults have their specific injury mechanisms. A great majority of these fractures occur as a result of a fall and a subsequent direct impact of the fractured site. Effective fracture prevention could be achieved by minimizing the obvious risk factors of falling and reducing the fall-induced impact force with injury site protection.

Accidental Falls↗

Application of recombinant BMP-7 on persistent upper and lower limb non-unions.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of recombinant bone morphogenetic protein 7 (rhBMP-7 or OP-1) as a bone-stimulating agent in the treatment of persistent fracture non-unions. Twenty-five consecutive patients [19 males, mean age 39.4 years (range: 18-79)] with 26 fracture non-unions were treated with rhBMP-7. There were 10 tibial non-unions, eight femoral, three humeral, three ulnar, one patellar, and one clavicular non-union. The mean follow-up was 15.3 months. The mean number of operations performed prior to rhBMP-7 application was 3.2, with autologous bone graft and bone marrow injection being used in 10 cases (38.5%). Both clinical and radiological union occurred in 24 (92.3%) cases, within a mean time of 4.2 months and 5.6 months, respectively. Of the remaining two cases, one patient ultimately underwent a below knee amputation, secondary to recurrence of deep sepsis. The other patient with recalcitrant ulnar non-union although the radiological union was incomplete, declined further intervention, as he was asymptomatic. No complications or adverse effects from the use of rhBMP-7 were encountered. This study supports the view that the application of rhBMP-7 as a bone-stimulating agent is safe and a power adjunct to be considered in the surgeon's armamentarium for the treatment of these challenging clinical conditions.

Adolescent↗

Proximal humerus fracture.

A thirty-five-year-old man who fell from a tree is admitted to the emergency department with the x-rays shown below. Physical examination reveals that the patient is neurologically intact and has good pulses. Management of this case is described in the following opinions.

Adult↗

New trends in the treatment of proximal humerus fractures.

UNLABELLED: For complex proximal humeral fractures, most authors agree on the importance of anatomic reduction and stable fixation to allow early range of motion. Currently a variety of techniques are used such as K-wires, t-plates, and primary prosthesis among others. However, no current treatment guidelines have been established. Newer implants provide greater angular stability, better biomechanical properties, and enhanced anchorage in these complex injuries. These implants therefore have a potential for achieving better results in treating complex fractures. We discuss current treatment concepts and focus on biomechanics and early results of new implants designed to provide angular stability. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Expert Opinion, Level V. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗

Humeral shaft split fracture around proximal humeral locking plates: a report of two cases.

Locking plates increasingly are being used in the treatment of osteoporotic fractures. Such devices provide multiple fixed- angle anchorage points and improve fracture fixation stability in weak bone. We report two cases of early proximal humeral fracture fixation failure in osteoporotic bone by humeral shaft "fissure" or split fracture after open reduction and internal fixation with locking proximal humeral plates and screws. Each patient failed early in the postoperative period and was revised to fixation with compression plating techniques, with uneventful union.

Aged, 80 and over↗

[Are angle-fixed implants with elastic properties advantageous for the internal fixation of proximal humerus fractures?].

There is a recent interest for the use of angle-fixed plates in the management of proximal humerus fractures. Rigid implants might be associated with an increased risk of cutting-out. In order to analyse the potential beneficial effects of the implant elasticity on fracture fixation, the biomechanical properties of a rigid and an elastic angle-fixed plating system were assessed in an experimental study. An unstable fracture of the surgical neck was created in 8 pairs of human humeri. Specimens were subjected to axial loading and torque. Stiffness, subsidence and load to failure were assessed. The implant with elastic properties was characterized by a lower torsional stiffness and a higher subsidence during axial loading and torque. This implant failed at lower loads than the rigid implant did. Elastic implant properties of angle-fixed plates have shown not to be advantageous for the management of fractures of the proximal humerus.

Bone Plates↗

Long-standing nonunion of fractures of the lateral humeral condyle.

BACKGROUND: Patients with nonunion of a fracture of the lateral humeral condyle often have pain, instability, or progressive cubitus valgus deformity with tardy ulnar nerve palsy. However, some patients have minimal or no symptoms or disabilities. We evaluated patients with long-standing established nonunion of the lateral humeral condyle to correlate the clinical long-term outcome of this condition with the original fracture type. METHODS: Nineteen elbows in eighteen patients who were at least twenty years of age were evaluated. Fourteen patients were male, and four were female. The average age at presentation was 42.5 years. The average interval from the injury to the presentation of the symptoms of the nonunion was thirty-seven years. Patients were divided into two groups on the basis of the size of the fragment and the location of the fracture line. Group 1 included nine elbows with nonunion resulting from a Milch Type-I injury, and Group 2 included ten elbows with a nonunion resulting from a Milch Type-II injury. Evaluations were performed with use of radiographic examination, clinical assessment, and calculation of the Broberg and Morrey score. RESULTS: Symptoms were seen more frequently in Group 1 than in Group 2. The range of flexion in Group 1 (range, 60 degrees to 145 degrees; average, 99 degrees) was more restricted than that in Group 2 (range, 100 degrees to 150 degrees; average, 129 degrees) (p = 0.0078). The functional score in Group 2 was significantly higher than that in Group 1 (p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Disabling symptoms only rarely developed in Group-2 patients. Occasionally, however, these patients do present with clinically detectable dysfunction of the ulnar nerve. In contrast, pain, instability, and loss of range of motion as well as ulnar nerve dysfunction developed in Group 1. For this reason we think that a nonunion of a Milch Type-I fracture should be treated as soon as possible after injury, preferably before the patient reaches skeletal maturity.

Adult↗

Biomechanical evaluation of proximal humeral fracture fixation supplemented with calcium phosphate cement.

BACKGROUND: Proximal humeral fractures are common injuries, and numerous surgical methods have been described for their treatment. The biomechanical characteristics of various internal fixation devices that are used to treat these fractures have not been extensively studied, nor has the potential beneficial effect of calcium phosphate cement supplementation. METHODS: We used a cadaveric three-part proximal humeral osteotomy model to perform a biomechanical evaluation of three types of internal fixation devices: a cloverleaf plate, an angled blade-plate, and Kirschner wires. The effect of supplementing the fixation with SRS (Skeletal Repair System) calcium phosphate cement was evaluated as well. Eighteen pairs of fresh-frozen humeri were obtained, and the bone-mineral density of each specimen was measured. In each pair, one specimen was secured with internal fixation alone and the contralateral specimen was secured with internal fixation combined with calcium phosphate cement. The specimens were tested cyclically in abduction and in external rotation for 250 cycles to evaluate interfragmentary motion. The specimens were then loaded to failure in external rotation to measure torsional load to failure and torsional stiffness. RESULTS: Overall, there were no significant differences between the specimens treated with the blade and cloverleaf plates, whereas the specimens treated with Kirschner wires demonstrated more interfragmentary motion, less stiffness, and lower torque to failure. In general, supplementation with calcium phosphate cement led to significant improvements in the mechanical performance of all three forms of internal fixation as demonstrated by a significant decrease in interfragmentary motion, a significant increase in torque to failure, and a significant increase in torsional stiffness. The addition of calcium phosphate cement increased the stiffness of even the most osteoporotic specimens to levels that were higher than those of the most osteodense specimens that had been treated with internal fixation alone. CONCLUSION: The initial biomechanical properties of internal fixation as measured with use of a proximal humeral osteotomy model and three methods of fixation were significantly improved by the addition of calcium phosphate cement.

Aged↗

Closed treatment of fractures of the proximal humerus.

The results of 42 patients with three- or four-part fractures of the proximal humerus treated by closed methods only were reviewed. In 34 three-part fractures, 24 cases were satisfactory and 10 cases unsatisfactory; the satisfactory results tended to be in an older age group. In four-part fractures all eight cases had unsatisfactory results. It is concluded that closed treatment can give satisfactory results in three-part fractures but not in four-part fractures.

Adult↗

Percutaneous pinning of proximal humerus fractures: a biomechanical study.

Mechanical testing of two-part surgical neck fractures fixed with four different pin configurations was performed. Ten fresh, frozen, unembalmed humeri stripped of all soft tissues were used; the surgical neck was osteotomized perpendicular to the humerus long axis. Terminally threaded 2.5-mm AO pins were used to fix the fracture. Humeri then were tested in both torsion and bending on a custom-made jig using Instron 1331 to assess the rigidity of pinning constructs. In torsion, two lateral pin construct was significantly less rigid than all other pin configurations. The addition of an anterior pin to two lateral pins did not increase bending rigidity, but significantly increased torsional stiffness. The addition of two bicortical tuberosity pins or two bicortical tuberosity pins and one anterior pin to two lateral pins significantly increased rotational and bending rigidity. Results confirm clinical data, and the authors conclude that multiplanar pins are needed to augment torsional stiffness, and that the addition of two bicortical tuberosity pins enhances bending rigidity.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗

[Treatment of two-part proximal humeral fractures with external fixators].

BACKGROUND: We aimed to evaluate the results of the closed manipulation or transcutaneous reduction and external fixation in the treatment of two-part fractures. METHODS: Eight patients with two-part proximal humerus fractures who had been treated in our clinic with closed manipulation or transcutaneous reduction and external fixation between 1996-2001 were evaluated for this study. We evaluated the final functional status according to the Neer's classification system. RESULTS: Mean age of the patients was 42 (21-75) years. The major aetiologic factor was motor vehicle accident (in 5 cases). Follow-up time was 2 to 4.5 years. Mean union time was 16 weeks (10 to 24). Nonunion and avascular necrosis of the humeral head have not been observed in none of the cases. Superficial pin tract infection was developed in three cases. All of them were treated successfully with antibiotics. Functional results according to Neer's classification were as follows: 5 good. 2 fair and 1 failed. Mean score 77, 25 (50 to 89). CONCLUSION: External fixation of displaced two-part fractures of proximal humerus can be assessed as a reliable method with respect to satisfactory fracture reduction and stability, low rate of complications and good early functional results-obtained with this technique.

Accidents, Traffic↗

Indications for prosthetic replacement in proximal humeral fractures.

Prosthetic replacement is a good treatment option in osteoporotic patients with four-part fractures, fracture-dislocations, head-split fractures with more than 40% articular surface involvement, anatomic neck fractures, dislocations present for longer than 6 months, and selected three-part fractures. Early prosthetic replacement of proximal humeral fractures has a better outcome than late reconstructive prosthetic management. Prosthetic design features specific forfracture care have led to a reduction in complications. Techniques will continue to improve as prosthetic design features specific for fractures evolve.

Adult↗

A comparative biomechanical analysis of implants for the stabilization of proximal humerus fractures.

A new humerus nail (Sirus) has become available for the treatment of fractures of the proximal humerus. The aim of the study was the biomechanical comparison of this implant with established systems. 12 matched pairs of human humeri were employed for testing. Three randomized groups were formed (n = 4 pairs). A bending moment of 7.5 Nm and a torsional moment of 8.3 Nm were applied in a test of five loading cycles to all intact bones. Loading was consistently initiated at the distal epiphysis. The consequent deformation at the distal epiphysis was continuously recorded. Then an osteotomy with a defect of 5 mm was created to simulate an unstable subcapital humerus fracture. For paired comparison, one of each pair was stabilized with the Sirus proximal humerus nail. The other side was fixed with a reference implant. The following groups were created.: Group I: Sirus versus Proximal humerus nail (PHN) with spiral blade. Group II: Sirus versus PHILOS plate. Group III: Sirus versus 4.5 mm AO T-plate. The proximal humerus nail (Sirus) demonstrated significantly higher stiffness values than the reference implants for both bending and torsional load. The following values were recorded at a bending moment of 7.5 Nm: Sirus 14.2 mm, PHN 20.7 mm, PHILOS plate 28.1 mm, 4.5 AO T-plate 29.3 mm p < 0.0012). The values at 8.3 Nm torsional moment were: Sirus 8.5 degrees , PHN 12.3 degrees , PHILOS plate 16.4 degrees , 4.5 AO T-Platte 15.6 degrees (p < 0.002). The intramedullary load carriers were biomechanically superior when compared to the plating systems in the fracture model presented here. Supplementary, the Sirus Nail showed higher stiffness values than the PHN. However, the latter are gaining in importance due to the possibility of minimal invasive implantation. Whether this will be associated with functional advantages requires further clinical investigation.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗