Early versus late mobilization after hemiarthroplasty for proximal humeral fractures.

This randomized controlled trial compares 2 mobilization regimens after shoulder hemiarthroplasty for acute 3- and 4-part fractures. The aim was to establish whether the length of immobilization plays a role in the functional outcome, tuberosity healing, and subsequent range of motion. The same prosthesis and surgical technique were used. We recruited 59 patients into the study; 31 were randomized to early (2 weeks) mobilization and 28 to late (6 weeks) mobilization. Greater tuberosity migration was assessed with a series of radiographs, and the functional outcome was assessed with the Constant Shoulder Assessment and Oxford shoulder scores. Of the patients, 49 (mean age, 70 years) met the inclusion criteria and were followed up for 12 months. Greater tuberosity migration occurred in 3 cases in the early mobilization group and once in the late mobilization group (P > .10). There was no significant difference in the Constant Shoulder Assessment and Oxford scores between the 2 groups. Although there was a decreased incidence of tuberosity migration in the group undergoing late mobilization, this was not statistically significant.

Treatment of severely displaced proximal humeral fractures in children with elastic stable intramedullary nailing.

We report on our 8-year experience of using elastic stable intramedullary nailing for severely displaced proximal humeral fractures in children. Fourteen patients (mean age 13.4 years) with seven epiphyseal and seven metaphyseal fractures underwent intramedullary nailing, using single nail fixation in 12 cases. Clinical and radiological healing was achieved at 2.4 and 3.2 months, respectively. Complications included temporary shoulder and elbow stiffness in one and four cases, respectively, one nail breakage at removal, two cases with minor humeral shortening, and two cases with minor varus deformity. At the final (14.6-month) follow up all patients had a symptom-free full range of motion. Elastic stable intramedullary nailing is a valid method of treating severely displaced proximal humeral fractures in children.

The Adams classification for cadaveric discograms: inter- and intra-observer error in the clinical setting.

The Adams classification for discogram morphology is based on a cadaveric study. It provides the basis for several subsequent classifications proposed in the literature. However, little or no attention has been paid to its reproducibility in the clinical setting. The authors assessed the reliability of this classification using three independent observers of differing experience. One hundred and thirty-three discograms belonging to 71 patients with chronic low back pain were reviewed in a randomised and blinded manner. The morphological appearance at each discogram level was assessed and assigned a type according to the Adams classification. The exercise was repeated 3 weeks later. Respective inter- and intra-observer agreements were calculated in the standard fashion using the kappa statistic. Both inter- and intra-observer agreements were excellent (kappa= 0.77-0.85). The Adams grading system for discogram morphology is consistently reproducible amongst observers with differing levels of experience. It can be safely recommended in the clinical setting as a reliable classification.