Clinical and Functional Result after Internal Fixation of Severely Displaced Floating Shoulder

PURPOSE: To evaluate the follow-up result of 11 cases that were operated with internal fixation of scapular neck and internal fixation of clavicle or acromioclavicular dislocation for severely displaced floating shoulder which was high energy injury and unstable. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined the scapular neck fracture with clavicle fracture or acromioclavicular joint dislocation by multidisciplinary research from August 1997 to July 2004. The scapular neck fractures were operated in the case of translational displacement of more than 25 mm and angular displacement of more than 45 degrees with 3.5 mm reconstruction plate fixation and internal fixation for clavicle fracture or acromioclavicular joint perpormed simultaneously. And we evaluated 11 cases that can be followed up for more than 9 months. RESULTS: We achieved bony union in all cases. In ASES functional score, we got average 89.2 (75~95) points. In Rowe functional score, we got average 89.1 (75~100) points. In complication, there was external rotation weakness in 1 case. CONCLUSION: In severely displaced floating shoulder due to high energy injury, we got good clinical and functional result after internal fixation for scapular neck and clavicle or acromioclavicular joint.

Operative Treatment of Floating Shoulder

PURPOSE: Conservative treatment of displaced ipsilateral compound fractures of clavicle and scapula neck or gleonoid cavity, causing a floating shoulder, cannot expect satisfactory results in all of them. We reviewed 9 operative cases of floating shoulders and analyzed the results with review of literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nine patients with floating shoulders were operated from July 1996 to August 2000 were reviewed. Patient's age was in average 38.3 years old. Associated injuries were 4 cases of rib fractures and 1 case of humerus shaft fracture. Other injuries included 3 hemothorax, 2 pneumothorax, 1 brachial plexus injury, and 1 ulnar nerve injury. Operation for both clavicle and scapula fracture was done in 6 cases, and surgery was done for only clavicle in 3 cases. Internal fixation for clavicle was done with 3.5 mm AO reconstruction plate in 4 cases and Dynamic Compression Plate in 5 cases. RESULTS: Clinical results by Hardegger method showed 7 cases of excellent, 1 case of good, and 1 case of poor. Complications include 2 cases of limitation of motion of shoulder joint and one case of residual pain. CONCLUSION: Floating Shoulder is caused by high-energy trauma, therefore initial assessment of associated injuries should be done carefully. In evaluating the articular surface of the glenoid and positions of the fracture fragment, CT evaluation is very useful in planning the surgical treatment. Clinical results after surgery can give satisfactory results.

Type II Floating Shoulder: Report of 4 cases / 대한정형외과학회잡지

In the literature, the scapular neck fracture with ipsilateral acromioclavicluar dislocation(type I), mid-clavicular fracture(type II) or sternoclavicular dislocation(type III) is defined as floating shoulder. Authors managed 4 cases of type II floating shoulder, 3 cases by open reduction and internal fixation for the clavicular fracture only and 1 case by conservative therapy. The final results were excellent in 3 cases of the operative group and good in 1 case of the conservative group, by UCLA shoulder rating scale. There were no complications, including drooping or limited motion in the operative treatment group. However, there was shoulder pain in the case of the conservative treatment. It is thought that internal fixation for the clavicular fracture only may be the simple and sufficient treatment method for type lI floating shoulder.