Accurate application of a precontoured-locking plate for proximal humeral fractures in Asians: a cadaveric study.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to identify the optimal position for a precontoured-locking plating (PHILOS(®)) of the proximal humerus in Asians in terms of conformity and to determine the prevalence of screw exits in the position of the highest conformity. METHODS: Twenty adult humeri and 14 cadaveric shoulders were included in this study. After placing the precontoured plate in the well-fitted position on the humerus, we measured the distance between the upper margin of the plate and the tip of greater tuberosity (GT) (distance A) and the distance between the anterior margin of the plate and lateral border of the bicipital groove (BG) (distance B). The prevalence of K-wire exits was assessed. In the 14 cadaver shoulders, the mutual relation between the most inferior locking sleeve of the optimally positioned plate and the axillary nerve was evaluated to assess the potential for axillary nerve injury. RESULTS: The precontoured plate was well-fitted and remained in a relatively constant position in all specimens. Distance A was an average of 3.6 mm (range 1.4-5.5 mm), and distance B was an average of 2.5 mm (range 0-4.6 mm). The K wire closest to the BG pierced it in four cases (20 %), and most inferior K wires exited at an average distance of 3.8 mm (range 1.6-9.0 mm) from the inferior articular margin of the humeral head. Regarding involvement of the BG, articular width was the only significant variable in the logistic regression model, with an odds' ratio of 0.610. The axillary nerve was located at an average vertical distance of 59.7 mm (range 51.8-66.9 mm) from the tip of the GT in a vertically neutral position. The results did not differ between the left and right sides (t = 0.326, p = 0.755). Although the axillary nerve was slightly inferior to the most inferior locking holes of the proximal humerus, it was located in the path of their locking sleeves on the deltoid muscle. CONCLUSION: The optimal position for the highest conformity led to ideal fixation of the proximal humerus and inferomedial support screw in Asians. However, the precontoured plate sometimes had screw exits that involved the BG, and articular width had a large impact on involvement of the BG. If locking sleeves for the most inferior holes were introduced on the deltoid muscle in a neutral position, there was high potential for injury to the axillary nerve in Koreans.

The effect of osteoporosis management on proximal humeral fracture.

HYPOTHESIS AND BACKGROUND: Proximal humeral fractures comprise 10% of fractures in the Medicare population. The effect, if any, of treating osteoporosis to prevent these fractures has not been determined. The primary objective is to determine the effectiveness of a systematic osteoporosis screening and treatment program on the hazard of developing a fracture over the treatment period. The secondary aim is to determine demographic risk factors. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study in a health care organization serving 3.3 million members. Individuals selected for dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry screening were (1) women aged 65 years or older; (2) men aged 70 years or older; and (3) individuals aged 50 years or older who have a history of fragility fracture, use glucocorticoids, have a parental history of hip fracture, have rheumatoid arthritis, use alcohol at a high rate, or are cigarette smokers. Treatment consisted primarily of pharmacologic intervention with bisphosphonates. RESULTS: Individuals diagnosed with osteoporosis had a hazard ratio of 7.43 for sustaining a fracture over the study period. Patients screened with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry had a hazard ratio of 0.17 whereas those treated medically had a hazard ratio of 0.55 versus untreated controls. Risk factors that significantly increased the risk of a fracture developing included age, female gender, white race, diabetes mellitus, and history of a distal radius fracture. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Over the study period, screening and treatment for osteoporosis significantly decreased the hazard ratio for proximal humeral fracture. This information broadens the impact of such programs because current best practices are primarily based on prevention of spine and hip fractures.

Hospital readmissions after surgical treatment of proximal humerus fractures: is arthroplasty safer than open reduction internal fixation?

BACKGROUND: With technologic advances such as locked periarticular plating, hemiarthroplasty of the humeral head, and more recently reverse total shoulder replacement, surgical treatment of proximal humerus fractures has become more commonplace. However, there is insufficient information regarding patient outcomes after surgery, such as the frequency of unplanned hospital readmissions and factors contributing to readmission. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: We measured (1) the frequency of unplanned hospital readmissions after surgical treatment of proximal humerus fractures, (2) the medical and surgical causes of readmission, and (3) the risk factors associated with unplanned readmissions. METHODS: The State Inpatient Database from seven different states was used to identify patients who underwent treatment for a proximal humerus fracture with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF), hemiarthroplasty of the humeral head, or reverse total shoulder arthroplasty from 2005 through 2010. The database was used to measure the 30-day and 90-day readmission rates and identify causes and risk factors for readmission. Multivariate modeling and a Cox proportional hazards model were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: A total of 27,017 patients were included with an overall 90-day readmission rate of 14% (15% for treatment with ORIF, 15% for reverse total shoulder arthroplasty, and 13% for hemiarthroplasty). The majority of readmissions were associated with medical diagnoses (75%), but treatment with ORIF was associated with the most readmissions from surgical complications, (29%) followed by reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (20%) and hemiarthroplasty (16%) (p < 0.001). Risk of readmission was greater for patients who were female, African American, discharged to a nursing facility, or had Medicaid insurance. CONCLUSIONS: As the majority of unplanned hospital readmissions were associated with medical diagnoses, it is important to consider patient medical comorbidities before surgical treatment of proximal humerus fractures and during the postoperative care phase. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, therapeutic study. See the Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.