ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the changes and clinical significance of neck-shaft angle in the treatment of proximal humerus fractures with locking plate.Methods A retrospective case-control study was done on 214 cases of proximal humerus fractures treated with locking plate in our hospital from January 2008 to June 2016.According to the presence of medial bone defects,the cases were divided into medial bone defect group (85 cases) and non-medial bone defect group (129 cases).In medial bone defect group,there were 35 males and 50 females,with an average age of 63.3 years old.In this group,the cases of Neer three-part fractures and Neer four-part fractures were 47 and 38,respectively.In non-medial bone defect group,there were 51 males and 78 females,with an average age of 65.9 years old.In this group,the cases of Neer three-part fractures and Neer four-part fractures were 57 and 72,respectively.The preoperative humeral neck-shaft angle of contralateral humerus,and the humeral neck-shaft angle with its changes on the second postoperative day as well as 1,3,6 and 12 months after surgery were evaluated by the X-ray film.The Constant scores of the shoulder function were also assessed.Results The follow-up time for the patients ranged from 12 to 42 months (mean 24.2 months).In medial bone defect group,the preoperative neck-shaft angle of contralateral humerus,as well as neck-shaft angles of fractured side at five follow-up visits were (133.4±4.0) °,(134.7 ±11.5) °,(120.8±4.0) °,(118.5 ±3.5) °,(117.9 ±10.4) °and (114.7 ±4.4)°,respectively.While in the other group,the corresponding parameters were (134.0±2.4)°,(133.8± 17.1)°,(135.6± 2.9)°,(132.7± 2.8) °,(131.5 ± 13.5) °,(135.2 ± 2.8) °,respectively.There were significant differences between the two groups of the neck-shaft angle at 1,3,6 and 12 months (P ＜ 0.05).In the medial bone defect group,there were no significant differences between neck-shaft angle of contralateral humerus and the second postoperative day (P ＞0.05),but both of them are significantly greater than others(P ＜0.05).In the other group,except for the neck-shaft angles of postoperative 1 month and 6 months (P ＜ 0.05),there was no statistically significant difference between the angles in different time points(P ＞ 0.05).The mean Constant scores of medial bone defect group and no medial bone defect group were (69.3 ± 14.6) and (75.2 ± 12.6),respectively.Conclusions After the recovery of neck shaft angle,there is still a need of attention to the losses of neck shaft angle after surgery.Neck-shaft angle could be a reference for the treatment strategy of proximal humerus fractures with locking plate,which could guide the anatomical reduction as well as be used to evaluate the effects after surgery.It could also be a reference for function exercise.Moreover,the losses of neck shaft angle will be influenced by supporting from internal side,which could have effects on the function recovery after surgery.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the changes and clinical significance of neck-shaft angle in the treatment of proximal humerus fractures with locking plate.Methods A retrospective case-control study was done on 214 cases of proximal humerus fractures treated with locking plate in our hospital from January 2008 to June 2016.According to the presence of medial bone defects,the cases were divided into medial bone defect group (85 cases) and non-medial bone defect group (129 cases).In medial bone defect group,there were 35 males and 50 females,with an average age of 63.3 years old.In this group,the cases of Neer three-part fractures and Neer four-part fractures were 47 and 38,respectively.In non-medial bone defect group,there were 51 males and 78 females,with an average age of 65.9 years old.In this group,the cases of Neer three-part fractures and Neer four-part fractures were 57 and 72,respectively.The preoperative humeral neck-shaft angle of contralateral humerus,and the humeral neck-shaft angle with its changes on the second postoperative day as well as 1,3,6 and 12 months after surgery were evaluated by the X-ray film.The Constant scores of the shoulder function were also assessed.Results The follow-up time for the patients ranged from 12 to 42 months (mean 24.2 months).In medial bone defect group,the preoperative neck-shaft angle of contralateral humerus,as well as neck-shaft angles of fractured side at five follow-up visits were (133.4±4.0) °,(134.7 ±11.5) °,(120.8±4.0) °,(118.5 ±3.5) °,(117.9 ±10.4) °and (114.7 ±4.4)°,respectively.While in the other group,the corresponding parameters were (134.0±2.4)°,(133.8± 17.1)°,(135.6± 2.9)°,(132.7± 2.8) °,(131.5 ± 13.5) °,(135.2 ± 2.8) °,respectively.There were significant differences between the two groups of the neck-shaft angle at 1,3,6 and 12 months (P ＜ 0.05).In the medial bone defect group,there were no significant differences between neck-shaft angle of contralateral humerus and the second postoperative day (P ＞0.05),but both of them are significantly greater than others(P ＜0.05).In the other group,except for the neck-shaft angles of postoperative 1 month and 6 months (P ＜ 0.05),there was no statistically significant difference between the angles in different time points(P ＞ 0.05).The mean Constant scores of medial bone defect group and no medial bone defect group were (69.3 ± 14.6) and (75.2 ± 12.6),respectively.Conclusions After the recovery of neck shaft angle,there is still a need of attention to the losses of neck shaft angle after surgery.Neck-shaft angle could be a reference for the treatment strategy of proximal humerus fractures with locking plate,which could guide the anatomical reduction as well as be used to evaluate the effects after surgery.It could also be a reference for function exercise.Moreover,the losses of neck shaft angle will be influenced by supporting from internal side,which could have effects on the function recovery after surgery.