Helical Plating for Fractures of the Proximal Humeral Shaft / 대한정형외과학회잡지

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of internal fixation with a helical plate for displaced proximal humeral shaft fractures by analyzing the clinical outcomes of patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen displaced fractures of the proximal humeral shaft were treated by open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) or by minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) with the use of helical locking compression plates. We evaluated the adequacy of reduction, time-to-fracture healing, range of motion of the shoulder, and postoperative complications. The functional outcome of the shoulder was evaluated using a Constant-Murley shoulder score. RESULTS: Anatomical reduction of the fracture was obtained in nine cases treated by ORIF, and anatomical alignment was obtained in five cases treated by MIPO. All fractures were healed in an average of 14.9 weeks. The active range of motion of the shoulder was fully recovered in five cases, and restricted in nine cases, at around 12 months after surgery. The mean Constant-Murley shoulder score was 87.4 points, at around 12 months after surgery. There were no major complications, such as neurovascular injury, infection, loss of fixation, and nonunion. CONCLUSION: Helical locking compression plating for proximal humeral shaft fractures is a safe and effective surgical method in obtaining satisfactory fracture healing and functional outcome because it provides stable fixation and avoids complications related with lateral plating.

Is Taking an Antiplatelet Agent a Contraindication for Early Surgery in Displaced Femur Neck Fracture? / 대한고관절학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether we have to stop the antiplatelet agents prior to hemiarthroplasty surgery in patients with displaced femur neck fractures to reduce postoperative complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled forty-three patients with displaced femur neck fractures who were treated by bipolar hemiarthroplasty and were taking antiplatelet agents. Group I included 21 patients who discontinued antiplatelet agents and had delayed operations at an average 5.7 days and group II included 22 patients who had had early operations within 24 hours without stopping the antiplatelet agents. We compared the pre- and postoperative levels of hemoglobin, the volume of postoperative transfusion requirement and complications. Student's t-test and chi-square test were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The average differences between preoperative and postoperative hemoglobin was 1.4+/-0.4 g/dL decrease in group I and 2.1+/-0.5 g/dL decrease in group II (P<0.001). Patients who received a blood transfusion were 11 in group I and 13 in group II (P=0.66). Total number of blood transfusion was 13 pints in group I and 18 pints in group II (P=0.23). Pneumonia occurred in one patient in each group. Four pressure sores and three diaper rashes were developed in group I. But there were no patients requiring massive transfusion, reoperation due to hematoma and infection in each group. CONCLUSION: Although continuous taking of antiplatelet agents in displaced femur neck fracture is associated with an increased risk of postoperative bleeding, taking an antiplatelet agent itself is not a contraindication of early surgery.

Unusual Cause of Hip Pain: Intrusion of the Acetabular Labrum / 대한고관절학회지

Femoroacetabular impingement and dysplatic hip joint is well known cause of osteoarthritis. In these diseases, labral tear and subsequent cartilage damage is thought to be main pathophysiology of development of osteoarthritis. If there are no known bony abnormalities, we called it as idiopathic osteoarthritis. Normal appearance of acetabular labrum is a continuous, usually triangular structure that attaches to the bony rim of the acetabulum and is completed at the inferior portion by the transverse acetabular ligament over the acetabular notch. A few authors reported intra-articular labrum and its relation to the development of osteoarthritis. But they didn't comment the primary bony abnormality especially acetabulum. We'd like to report x-ray, computed tomogram, magnetic resonance arthrogram and arthroscopic findings of a case had double contour sign of acetabular dome combined with intrusion of acetabular labrum.