OBJECTIVE: To review the advancement made in the understanding of valgus impacted proximal humeral fracture (PHF). METHODS: The domestic and foreign literature about the valgus impacted PHF was extensively reviewed and the definition, classification, pathological features, and treatment of valgus impacted PHFs were summarized. RESULTS: PHF with a neck shaft angle ≥160° is recognized as a valgus impacted PHF characterized by the preservation of the medial epiphyseal region of the humeral head, which contributes to maintenance of the medial periosteum's integrity after fracture and reduces the occurrence of avascular necrosis. Therefore, the valgus impacted PHF has a better prognosis when compared to other complex PHFs. The Neer classification designates it as a three- or four-part fracture, while the AO/Association for the Study of Internal Fixation (AO/ASIF) categorizes it as type C (C1.1). In the management of the valgus impacted PHF, the selection between conservative and surgical approaches is contingent upon the patient's age and the extent of fracture displacement. While conservative treatment offers the advantage of being non-invasive, it is accompanied by limitations such as the inability to achieve anatomical reduction and the potential for multiple complications. Surgical treatment includes open reduction combined with steel wire or locking plate and/or non-absorbable suture, transosseous suture technology, and shoulder replacement. Surgeons must adopt personalized treatment strategies for each patient with a valgus impacted PHF. Minimally invasive surgery helps to preserve blood supply to the humeral head, mitigate the likelihood of avascular necrosis, and reduce postoperative complications of bone and soft tissue. For elderly patients with severe comminuted and displaced fractures, osteoporosis, and unsuitable internal fixation, shoulder joint replacement is the best treatment option. CONCLUSION Currently, there has been some advancement in the classification, vascular supply, and management of valgus impacted PHF. Nevertheless, further research is imperative to assess the clinical safety, biomechanical stability, and indication of minimally invasive technology.
Aged ; Humans ; Bone Plates ; Bone Wires ; Fracture Fixation, Internal/adverse effects* ; Fractures, Comminuted/surgery* ; Humeral Fractures ; Osteonecrosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Shoulder Fractures/surgery* ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effectiveness of compression screw combined with Buttress plate through direct axillary approach for Ideberg typeⅡ scapular glenoid fractures. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 11 patients with Ideberg type Ⅱ scapular glenoid fractures treated with compression screws combined with Buttress plate fixation through the direct axillary approach between January 2014 and June 2022. There were 7 males and 4 females, aged from 34 to 75 years, with an average of 56.0 years. The causes of injury included 4 cases of falling from height injury, 4 cases of heavy object injury, and 3 cases of traffic accident injury. The time from injury to operation was 2-5 days, with an average of 3.8 days. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, hospital stay, complications, and fracture healing time were recorded. The Constant-Murley score, American Society of Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, and shoulder joint flexion, abduction, external rotation (neutral position), and internal rotation (neutral position) range of motion were used to evaluate shoulder joint pain and function. RESULTS: The operation time was 45-105 minutes, with an average of 79.0 minutes; the intraoperative blood loss was 80-200 mL, with an average of 99.2 mL; the hospital stay was 3-8 days, with an average of 5.8 days. One patient had poor wound healing after operation, and the wound healed after strengthening dressing change; the rest wounds had primary healing, and no axillary nerve paralysis occurred. Except for 1 patient lost follow-up, the remaining 10 patients were followed up 10-54 months, with an average of 26.4 months. The postoperative X-ray film examination showed that the fractures healed well within 8-15 weeks, with an average of 11.0 weeks. There was no complication such as fracture displacement, internal fixator failure or fracture during follow-up. At last follow-up, the patient's shoulder joint flexion, abduction, external rotation (neutral position), and internal rotation (neutral position) range of motion, Constant-Murley score, and ASES score significantly improved when compared with those before operation ( P<0.05). CONCLUSION Compression screw combined with Buttress plate through direct axillary approach is an effective way to treat Ideberg typeⅡ scapular glenoid fracture, with advantages of small trauma, concealed incision, and good effectiveness.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Blood Loss, Surgical ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Treatment Outcome ; Shoulder Fractures/surgery* ; Bone Screws ; Bone Plates

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of posterior axillary approach internal fixation for Ideberg Ⅰa andⅡ glenoid fractures. METHODS: From December 2018 to September 2021, 9 patients with lower part of glenoid fractures were treated by posterior axillary approach, including 3 males and 6 females, aged from 50 to 78 years old. All the fractures were closed fractures. According to Ideberg type of scapular glenoid fracture was type Ⅰa in 6 cases and type Ⅱ in 3 cases. AP and lateral X-ray films of scapula were taken at 6, 12 weeks and 6 and 12 months postoperatively. Constant-Murley and disabilities of the arm shoulder and hand (DASH), and other complications were recorded at the latest follow-up. RESULTS: Nine patients were followed up, ranged from 6 to 15 months. And bone healing was achieved in all 9 patients at the final follow-up, the healing time 3 to 6 months, Constant-Murley score at the final follow-up ranged from 55 to 96, and DASH score ranged from 3.33 to 33.33. Both of them were better than preoperative. CONCLUSION The posterior axillary approach internal fixation for Ideberg Ⅰa and Ideberg Ⅱ Glenoid fractures scapular fracture is satisfactory and worthy of clinical application.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Fractures, Bone/surgery* ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Shoulder/surgery* ; Scapula/surgery* ; Shoulder Fractures ; Fractures, Closed ; Treatment Outcome ; Retrospective Studies

Humans ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Shoulder Fractures/surgery* ; Bone Plates ; Treatment Outcome ; Humeral Fractures/surgery*

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical outcomes of anteromedial combined with lateral locking plate for complex proximal humeral fractures in the eldery. METHODS: From June 2018 to October 2020, 30 patients who underwent surgical treatment for Neer grade 3 to 4 proximal humeral fractures, including 8 males and 22 females, aged from 51 to 78 years old with an average of (61.5±7.5) years old. Of them, 15 patients had fractures fixed with anteromedial combined with lateral locking plate(ALLP group), whereas 15 received internal fixation with proximal humerus locking plate only(PHLP group). The clinical data, simple shoulder test (SST), humeral head height loss, varus angle and shoulder range of motion were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: All fractures were healed. The follow-up time ranged from 12 to 24 months, with an average of(14.3±2.9) months. The operation time of ALLP group was longer than that of PHLP group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in intraoperative blood loss between the two groups (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in SST score between the two groups at 1, 3 and 12 months after operation (P>0.05). In terms of radiographic measurement, there was no significant difference in humeral head height loss and varus angle between the two groups at 1 and 3 months after operation (P>0.05). At 12 months after operation, the height loss and varus angle of humeral head in ALLP group were lower than those in PHLP group (P<0.05). In shoulder range of motion, the range of forward elevation in ALLP group was larger than that in PHLP group 1 year after operation(P<0.05). There was no significant difference in external rotation between the two groups. CONCLUSION Anteromedial combined with lateral locking plate in the treatment of complex proximal humeral fractures in the elderly can increase the stability of the medial column and obtain a good fracture prognosis. But there are also disadvantages such as longer operation time, so it should be individualized according to the fracture type of the patient.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Shoulder Fractures/surgery* ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Shoulder ; Humeral Head ; Bone Plates ; Humeral Fractures/surgery*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty as a revision procedure for the failed fixation of proximal humeral fractures in the elderly patients. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on 8 patients with failed internal fixation of proximal humeral fractures from May 2014 to March 2020, including 3 males and 5 females, aged from 65 to 75 years old. All 8 patients underwent reverse total shoulder arthroplasty, and the mean time between initial fixation and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty ranged from 8 to 16 months. Range of motion(ROM), University of California at Los Angeles(UCLA) shoulder score, visual analogue scale (VAS), self-rating anxiety scale(SAS), and Constant-Murley score of shoulder function were assessed pre-operatively and at the last follow-up. Complications relating to the surgery were recorded. RESULTS: All 8 patients successfully followed up. The mean follow-up after reverse total shoulder arhroplasty ranged from 16 to 28 months. The range of motion (forward flexion, external rotation, abduction and internal rotation) of the affected shoulder was significantly improved after surgery, and the post-operative VAS, SAS and UCLA scores were also significantly improved. For the Constant-Murley score of shoulder joint function, the total scores and the subscores of pain, daily activities, range of motion and strength test at the last follow-up were all significantly improved. Scapular glenoid notch was observed in patient, which was evaluated as grade 1 on imaging. All the other patients did not develop specific or non-specific complications. CONCLUSION Reverse total shoulder arhroplasty is an appropriate treatment as a revision surgery for failed fixation of proximal humeral fractures. It has shown satisfactory clinical outcomes, accelerating the rehabilitation of shoulder function and improving the quality of life.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Aged ; Shoulder/surgery* ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Shoulder/methods* ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Quality of Life ; Shoulder Joint/surgery* ; Shoulder Fractures/surgery* ; Humerus/surgery* ; Range of Motion, Articular

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of allogeneic femoral head as strut allograft combined with proximal humeral internal locking system (PHILOS) in the treatment of proximal humeral Neer grade Ⅳ fracture with humeral head collapse. METHODS: From January 2018 to November 2020, 18 patients with Neer grade Ⅳ fracture with humeral head collapse were treated with strut allograft with PHILOS, including 4 males and 14 females, aged from 55 to 78 years old, with an average of (68.11±7.20) years old. The operation time, intraoperative bleeding, postoperative drainage volume, fracture healing time, neck-shaft angle and the height of the humeral head, failure of internal fixation the shoulder function at the last follow-up was assessed using Neer's scoring system. RESULTS: All 18 patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 10 to 12 months, with an average of (11.08±0.65) months. The operation time was (66.44±5.06) min, the intraoperative bleeding volume was (206.67±36.14) ml, the postoperative drainage volume was (76.11±9.63) ml, and the fracture healing time was (17.28±3.92) weeks. At the last follow-up, the degree of loss of neck-shaft angle was (5.44±0.86) ° and the loss of the height of humeral head was (1.43±0.27) mm. All 18 patients had healing without complications such as fracture, withdrawal, penetration of internal fixation and necrosis of humeral head. According to Neer's evaluation standard, the total score was (89.61±5.60), 10 cases got an excellent result, 6 good, 2 fair. CONCLUSION Allogeneic femoral head combined with PHILOS is an appropriate treatment for the four-part proximal humerus fractures with humeral head collapse, exhibiting good clinic outcome.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Humeral Head ; Shoulder ; Treatment Outcome ; Bone Plates ; Retrospective Studies ; Humerus ; Shoulder Fractures/surgery* ; Fracture Fixation, Internal/adverse effects* ; Humeral Fractures ; Allografts

OBJECTIVE: With the help of finite element analysis, to explore the effect of proximal humeral bone cement enhanced screw plate fixation on the stability of internal fixation of osteoporotic proximal humeral fracture. METHODS: The digital model of unstable proximal humeral fracture with metaphyseal bone defect was made, and the finite element models of proximal humeral fracture bone cement enhanced screw plate fixation and common screw plate fixation were established respectively. The stress of cancellous bone around the screw, the overall stiffness, the maximum stress of the plate and the maximum stress of the screw were analyzed. RESULTS: The maximum stresses of cancellous bone around 6 screws at the head of proximal humeral with bone cement enhanced screw plate fixation were 1.07 MPa for No.1 nail, 0.43 MPa for No.2 nail, 1.16 MPa for No.3 nail, 0.34 MPa for No.4 nail, 1.99 MPa for No.5 nail and 1.57 MPa for No.6 nail. These with common screw plate fixation were:2.68 MPa for No.1 nail, 0.67 MPa for No.2 nail, 4.37 MPa for No.3 nail, 0.75 MPa for No.4 nail, 3.30 MPa for No.5 nail and 2.47 MPa for No.6 nail. Overall stiffness of the two models is 448 N/mm for bone cement structure and 434 N/mm for common structure. The maximum stress of plate appears in the joint hole:701MPa for bone cement structure and 42 0MPa for common structure. The maximum stress of screws appeared at the tail end of No.4 nail:284 MPa for bone cement structure and 240.8 MPa for common structure. CONCLUSION Through finite element analysis, it is proved that the proximal humerus bone cement enhanced screw plate fixation of osteoporotic proximal humeral fracture can effectively reduce the stress of cancellous bone around the screw and enhance the initial stability after fracture operation, thus preventing from penetrating out and humeral head collapsing.
Humans ; Finite Element Analysis ; Bone Cements ; Polymethyl Methacrylate ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Shoulder Fractures/surgery* ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Humeral Head ; Bone Screws ; Bone Plates

PURPOSE: Unsatisfactory results of hemiarthroplasty in Neer's 3- and 4-part proximal humerus fractures in elderly, have led to the shift towards reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA). The objective of our study was to repair the tuberosities that are generally overlooked during RSA and observe its impact on the functional outcome and shoulder scores. METHODS: We include elderly patients with acutely displaced or dislocated 3- or 4-part proximal humerus fractures from July 2013 to November 2019 who were treated with RSA along with tuberosity repair by non-absorbable sutures and bone grafting harvested from the humeral head. Open injuries and cases with neuro-muscular involvement of the deltoid muscle were excluded. According to the tuberosity healing on radiographs of the shoulder at 9th postoperative month, the patients were divided into 2 groups, as the group with successful tuberosity repair and the other with failed tuberosity repair. Statistical analysis of the functional outcome and shoulder scores between the 2 groups were done by independent t-test for normally distributed parameters and Mann-Whitney test for the parameters, where data was not normally distributed. RESULTS: Of 41 patients, tuberosity healing was achieved in 28 (68.3%) and failed in 13 (31.7%) cases. Lysis of the tuberosity occurred in 5 patients, tuberosity displacement in 2, and nonunion in 2. Mean age was 70.4 years (range 65 - 79 years) and mean follow-up was 58.7 months (range 18 - 93 months). There were no major complications. Group with successful tuberosity repair showed improvement in mean active range of movements, like anterior elevation (165.1° ± 4.9° vs. 144.6° ± 9.4°, p < 0.000), lateral elevation (158.9° ± 7.2° vs. 138.4° ± 9.6°, p < 0.000), external rotation (30.5° ± 6.9° vs. 35.0° ± 6.3°, p = 0.367), internal rotation (33.7° ± 7.5° vs. 32.6° ± 6.9°, p = 0.671) and in mean shoulder scores including Constant score (70.7 ± 4.1 vs. 55.5 ± 5.7, p < 0.000), American shoulder and elbow surgeons score (90.3 ± 2.4 vs. 69.0 ± 5.7, p < 0.000), disability of arm shoulder and hand score (22.1 ± 2.3 vs. 37.6 ± 2.6, p < 0.000). CONCLUSION Successful repair and tuberosity healing around the RSA prosthesis is associated with statistically significant improvement in postoperative range of motion, strength and shoulder scores. Standardized repair technique and interposition of cancellous bone grafts, harvested from the humeral head can improve the rate of tuberosity healing.
Humans ; Aged ; Child, Preschool ; Child ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Shoulder/methods* ; Arm/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Shoulder Fractures/surgery* ; Humerus/surgery* ; Humeral Head/surgery* ; Humeral Fractures/surgery* ; Treatment Outcome ; Range of Motion, Articular

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical efficacy of locking plate fixation with a fibular strut allograft (FA group) and locking plate fixation alone (LP group) in the treatment of proximal humeral fractures in adults by Meta-analysis. METHODS: Databases including PubMed, The Cochrane Library, Embase, Chinese BioMedical Literature Database(CBM), China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI), WanFang Data, and China Science and Technology Journal Database (cpvip Database) were searched by computer from establishing to March 2020 to collect studies about locking plate fixation with fibular strut allograft versus locking plate fixation alone for proximal humeral fractures in adults. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of included studies. The postoperative humeral head height changes, neck-shaft angle changes, Constant-Murley score, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons(ASES)score, visual analogue scale(VAS), varus malunion rate, and screw penetration rate were compared by RevMan 5.3 software for Meta-analysis. RESULTS: Ten cohort studies were enrolled in a total of 749 patients, 300 patients in the FA group and 449 patients in the LP group. The results of Meta-analysis showed that locking plate with fibular strut allograft was superior to locking plate fixation alone in the changes in humeral head height [MD=-2.69, 95%CI(-3.24, -2.13), P<0.000 01], the changes in neck-shaft angle [MD=-5.65, 95%CI(-7.18, -4.12), P<0.000 01], Constant-Murley score [MD=9.00, 95%CI(4.26, 13.73), P=0.000 2], the ASES score [MD=5.56, 95%CI(4.29, 6.84), P=0.000 01], VAS score [MD=-0.23, 95%CI(-0.37, -0.09), P=0.001], the varus malunion rate [RR=0.22, 95%CI(0.09, 0.53), P=0.000 7] and the screw penetration rate [RR=0.26, 95%CI(0.13, 0.55), P=0.000 3], respectively.While there was no significant difference in the rate of osteonecrosis of the humeral head [RR=1.18, 95%CI(0.57, 2.45), P=0.65]. CONCLUSION For proximal humeral fractures in adults, current evidence shows that locking plate fixation with fibular strut allograft is superior to single locking plate fixation in improving postoperative radiological outcomes and shoulder function, relieving postoperative pain, reducing varus malunion rate and screw penetration rate. However, the efficacy in decreasing the osteonecrosis rate is not clear. Due to limited quality and quantity of the included studies, more high-quality studies are required to verify the above conclusion.
Adult ; Allografts ; Bone Plates ; Fracture Fixation, Internal/methods* ; Humans ; Humeral Fractures ; Retrospective Studies ; Shoulder Fractures/surgery* ; Treatment Outcome