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The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (American). 2004;86:143-155
© 2004 The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Inc.

Severely Impacted Valgus Proximal Humeral Fractures

C. Michael Robinson, BMedSci, FRCSEd(Orth)1 and Richard S. Page, BMedSci, FRACS(Orth)2

1 The Shoulder Injury Clinic, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Old Dalkeith Road, Edinburgh EH16 4SU, Scotland, United Kingdom. E-mail address: c.mike.robinson{at}ed.ac.uk
2 St. John of God Hospital, Suite 1, 5th Floor, 80 Myers Street, Geelong, Victoria 3220, Australia

Investigation performed at the Orthopaedic Trauma Unit, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland

The original scientific article in which the surgical technique was presented was published in JBJS Vol. 85-A, pp. 1647-1655, September 2003

The authors did not receive grants or outside funding in support of their research or preparation of this manuscript. They did not receive payments or other benefits or a commitment or agreement to provide such benefits from a commercial entity. No commercial entity paid or directed, or agreed to pay or direct, any benefits to any research fund, foundation, educational institution, or other charitable or nonprofit organization with which the authors are affiliated or associated.

The line drawings in this article are the work of Jennifer Fairman (jfairman{at}fairmanstudios.com).

BACKGROUND:

The functional results associated with nonoperative treatment of severely impacted valgus fractures of the proximal part of the humerus are poor, and these injuries are difficult to treat with minimally invasive percutaneous fixation techniques. The aim of this study was to review the functional and radiographic results and complications of a new operative technique in a series of twenty-five patients.

METHODS:

Over a two-year period, we treated twenty-nine patients with a severely impacted valgus fracture of the proximal part of the humerus. Three patients were lost to follow-up and one died, leaving twenty-five patients who were available for the study. In all of the fractures, the head-shaft angle had been tilted into ≥160° of valgus and the greater tuberosity was displaced by >1 cm. All patients were treated with open reduction of the fracture, and the space created behind the humeral head was filled with Norian Skeletal Repair System (SRS) bone substitute. The fractures were stabilized with either screws or buttress plate fixation. Associated rotator cuff tears were repaired. All patients underwent functional outcome assessment with use of the Constant, DASH (Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand), and SF-36 (Short Form-36) scores at one year, and twelve patients were followed for two years.

RESULTS:

All fractures united within the first year, all reductions were maintained, and no patient had signs of osteonecrosis of the humeral head on the latest follow-up radiographs. At one year, the median Constant score was 80 points and the median DASH score was 22 points. The functional results continued to be satisfactory in the twelve patients who were followed for two years. The results in our series were better than those achieved in studies of nonoperative treatment of similar fracture configurations. There were six clinically relevant complications, although none required a reoperation and all six patients had a satisfactory short-term functional outcome.

CONCLUSIONS:

Internal fixation of severely impacted valgus fractures of the proximal part of the humerus, supplemented by Norian SRS bone substitute to fill the proximal humeral metaphyseal defect, produces good early functional and radiographic outcomes. Additional follow-up will be required to assess whether these initially satisfactory outcomes are maintained over the longer term.


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Related articles in JBJS:

Severely Impacted Valgus Proximal Humeral Fractures: Results of Operative Treatment
C. Michael Robinson and Richard S. Page
JBJS 2003 85: 1647-1655. [Abstract] [Full Text]  



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