Functional outcomes for surgically treated 3- and 4-part proximal humerus fractures.

Surgical treatment of 3- and 4-part proximal humeral fractures remains challenging. This study retrospectively evaluated functional outcomes of locked plate fixation vs hemi-arthroplasty in 57 patients with 3- and 4-part proximal humerus fractures from 2003 to 2005 with a mean follow-up time of 35 months (range, 15.7-52.7 months). Mean patient age was 56.9 years (range, 29-81.7 years) for the open reduction and internal fixation group (n=42) and 66.4 years (range, 38.1-90 years) for hemiarthroplasty group (n=15). All 57 patients completed the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, the Simple Shoulder Test, the Euroqol EQ-5D, [corrected] and the visual analog pain scale. Range of motion, the Constant Score, and the UCLA Shoulder score were used to evaluate a subset of 33 patients. Forty-one patients in the open reduction and internal fixation group achieved union, and 1 had symptomatic avascular necrosis requiring subsequent hemiarthroplasty. Two patients had implant removal for impingement symptoms. In the hemiarthroplasty group, there was 1 revision for a loose prosthesis. The American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score (P=.023), Simple Shoulder Test (P=.012), patient satisfaction (P=.034), Constant Score (P=.008), Kelsh Adjusted Constant Score (P=.015), UCLA Shoulder score (P=.01), and range of motion (forward flexion, P=.002; abduction, P=.001) were significantly better in the open reduction and internal fixation group than the hemiarthroplasty group. No significant differences between the groups existed in terms of SF-12 (physical, P=.118; mental, P=.134), Euroqol EQ-5D [corrected] (P=.169), or visual analog pain scale scores (P=.135), but all trended toward better with open reduction and internal fixation.

Treatment of large segmental bone defects with reamer-irrigator-aspirator bone graft: technique and case series.

Treatment of large segmental defects using conventional autogenous iliac crest bone graft can be limited by volume of cancellous bone and donor site morbidity. The reamer-irrigator-aspirator (RIA) technique allows access to a large volume of cancellous bone graft containing growth factors with potency equal to or greater than autograft material from the iliac crest. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of RIA-harvested autogenous bone graft for treating large segmental defects of long bones.

Extraction of an intra-articular bullet fragment from the subtalar joint: the "drill, tap, and extract" method.

The necessity of extracting intra-articular bullet fragments is well documented in the orthopedic literature. A case of the removal of a retained bullet fragment lodged within the subtalar joint and calcaneus is presented. The bullet fragment was drilled and tapped with small-fragment instruments and was readily removed. This technique is relatively easy to perform and may be used when bullet fragments are imbedded in osseous or intra-articular sites that are distant from the entrance wound.