Open reduction and internal fixation for multiple injuries of superior shoulder suspensory complex with coracoid process fracture / 中国修复重建外科杂志

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of open reduction and internal fixation for multiple injuries of superior shoulder suspensory complex (SSSC) with coracoid process fracture. Methods: Between January 2014 and October 2018, 22 patients with multiple injuries of SSSC with coracoid process fracture were treated by open reduction and internal fixation. There were 16 males and 6 females, aged from 24 to 72 years with an average age of 36.6 years. There were 10 cases of falling injury, 5 cases of traffic accident injury, and 7 cases of falling from height injury. All of them were fresh closed injuries. The time from injury to operation ranged from 2 to 17 days with an average of 6.9 days. Both X-ray film and CT showed the coracoid process fracture complicated with clavicular fracture in 14 cases, acromioclavicular joint dislocation in 12 cases, and acromioclavicular fracture in 5 cases. There were 14 cases of two places of SSSC, 7 cases of three places of SSSC, and 1 case of four places of SSSC. Results: All incisions healed in primary stage after operation. All patients were followed up 10-24 months with an average of 14.1 months. X-ray films showed that all fractures healed and the acromioclavicular joint was normal. The healing time ranged from 6 to 12 months, with an average of 6.2 months. No complications such as internal fixation failure and nonunion occurred. According to University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) shoulder scoring system, the shoulder joint function was rated as excellent in 15 cases, good in 5 cases, and poor in 2 cases at last follow-up. The excellent and good rate was 90.9%. Conclusion: Open reduction and internal fixation for treatment of multiple injuries of SSSC with coracoid process fracture is firm and reliable. Combined with active postoperative rehabilitation program intervention, it can accelerate the recovery of shoulder joint function and achieve satisfactory effectiveness.

Treatment of Triple Fracture of the Superior Shoulder Suspensory Complex / 대한정형외과학회잡지

The Superior Shoulder Suspensory Complex (SSSC) is a bony and soft tissue ring comprising the glenoid process, the coracoid process, the coracoclavicular ligaments, the distal clavicle, the acromioclavicular joint, and the acromion. The SSSC maintains a normal stable relationship between the upper extremity and the axial skeleton. High-energy injury, such as traffic accident or a fall, can cause disruption of the SSSC. Single traumatic disruption of the SSSC is common. However, double disruption of the SSSC is infrequent and surgical management is generally necessary. We have experienced a case of triple fracture involving the coracoid process, the acromion, and the distal end of the clavicle. Such disruption of the SSSC has not been previously reported in our country and only one case has been reported in the Western literature; the authors obtained positive clinical results with surgical treatment. We report here on this case and include a review of the relevant literature.