Postoperative results of Ogawa type IIB meta-acromion fracture fixation with a 90° twisted reconstruction plate.

INTRODUCTION: Acromion fractures are rare and difficult to treat. There is no consensus on type of fixation. Due to the rarity of the injury, it is difficult to compare different techniques of osteosynthesis. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to present the long-term results of an alternative method of plating Ogawa type IIB meta-acromion fractures and to review the literature. DESIGN: Retrospective study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We present a case series of 11 consecutive patients with displaced Ogawa type IIB meta-acromion fracture, treated with open reduction internal fixation using a 3.5-mm contoured pelvic reconstruction plate with a 90° twist. Patients' mean age was 53.3 years (23-80 years) and the mean follow-up was 48.3 months (15 months-9 years). The outcomes related to pain and shoulder function were evaluated by Modified American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Score (ASES) and SF-36 score. All patients were asked about their satisfaction level. RESULTS: Nine out of eleven patients were included in this study. Eight of them obtained union and all were satisfied with the final outcome. The mean ASES and SF-36 score were 69.75 (42.4-98.14) and 61.37 (41.64-94.99), respectively, with poor scores to be largely associated with comorbidities and concomitant injuries. CONCLUSIONS: The use of 3.5-mm reconstruction plate with a 90° twist for open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) of meta-acromion fractures presents satisfactory results and could be technically a more stable biomechanical construct in comparison to the existing surgical techniques.

The inter-teres approach to glenoid neck fractures: an alternative approach to glenoid fixation.

BACKGROUND: Scapula fractures are rare injuries that are generally treated nonoperatively. When surgery is performed, it is commonly undertaken through the posterior approach, which can be invasive and unforgiving on the soft tissues. We describe an alternative safe approach between teres major and minor that remains deep to a fascial sling formed by the combined infraspinatus and teres minor fasciae and deep to the primary nerve to teres minor, which is a terminal branch of the axillary nerve. METHODS: Between January 2008 and June 2014, there were 22 patients who underwent scapula fixation with this approach who were retrospectively identified and prospectively invited for clinical review by the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) evaluation form and Constant score. Postoperative external rotation (ER) power in both abduction and adduction was also assessed. RESULTS: Five patients were lost to follow-up. All of the remaining patients were male with a mean age of 44.5 years (28-66 years). Mean follow-up time was 34.7 months (3-72 months). The mean ASES score for the 17 patients was 86.6 (41.6-100); the mean Constant score was 89.3 (22-100). The only significant factor affecting the ASES score was an ipsilateral neurologic upper limb injury. ER power was improved or equivalent to the contralateral side in 8 of the 10 patients assessed for ER; it was weaker in 2 patients, both of whom had surgical fixation of the vertebral border of the scapula. CONCLUSION: The inter-teres approach may be a safe alternative approach in glenoid fixation, although the loss of ER strength needs further evaluation.

Os acromiale open reduction and internal fixation: a review of iliac crest autogenous bone grafting and local bone grafting.

BACKGROUND: Symptomatic os acromiale are fairly uncommon, and treatment has included fragment excision, decompression, and open reduction and internal fixation. Nonunion rates as high as 40% have been reported after fixation of os acromiale. This study assessed whether union of an os acromiale could be reliably achieved without the use of an iliac crest bone graft. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 32 consecutive shoulders that were treated with screw fixation and a local bone graft or iliac crest bone graft. The mean age was 50.3 years (range, 21-74 years), and the mean follow-up was 46.9 months (range, 12-120 months). Fusion was assessed clinically and radiologically. RESULTS: All 32 os acromiale were fused by 3 months on x-ray imaging. There were 18 shoulders in the iliac crest bone graft group and 14 in the local bone graft group. Rotator cuff repairs were performed concomitantly in 25 patients. Hardware was removed in 4 patients, a seroma was drained in 1 patient, and a superficial infection occurred in 1 patient. CONCLUSION: This is the largest study of os acromiale fixation using screws and a tension band to our knowledge. We report a 100% union rate using this technique, with 13% requiring hardware removal and the occurrence of 1 superficial infection. This study shows a local bone graft is as effective as iliac crest bone graft in achieving fusion.

Is radiograph glenopolar angle accurate for extraarticular scapular neck fractures?

BACKGROUND: Plain radiographs still play a role in management of extraarticular scapular neck fractures. Glenopolar angle (GPA) is one of the radiograph measurements that is used to determine the necessity for surgery. Our aim was to establish reliability of GPA on plain radiograph in patients with extraarticular scapular neck fractures. METHODS: We performed a multicentre retrospective study including all patients with extraarticular scapular neck fractures with available imaging between 2006 and 2012. We excluded intra-articular glenoid fractures, scapular blade fractures, acromion fractures, and scapular spine fractures. We compared GPA on plain radiograph with three dimensional computed tomography (3D CT) measurement, as well as contribution of radiograph rotational error, glenoid inclination, and medial shortening of glenoid fragment towards GPA measurement. RESULTS: One hundred patients met the inclusion criteria. The mean difference between the GPA measurements on radiographs and 3D CT was 6.1±0.85° (95% confidence interval) as an absolute value. In terms of contribution to GPA values, GPA changed by one degree with ten degrees of radiograph rotational error, three degrees of glenoid inclination, and three millimetres of glenoid fragment medial shortening. CONCLUSION: Plain radiograph can provide a clinician with a reasonable estimation of the GPA. Glenoid inclination has a greater influence on GPA compared to medial shortening.

Subscapularis tenotomy versus lesser tuberosity osteotomy during total shoulder replacement: a comparison of patient outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Two different techniques to release the subscapularis during total shoulder replacement (TSR) have been described: tenotomy and osteotomy. We review the clinical outcomes of a sequential series of patients in whom a TSR for primary osteoarthritis had been performed by either technique at our institution. Subscapularis function was tested by a new graded belly-press test. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients who underwent surgery between January 2002 and January 2010, and met the eligibility criteria, were included for analysis. Subscapularis function was assessed postoperatively with a range of functional assessments, including the graded belly-press test and lift-off test, as well as assessment of each patient's range of movement. RESULTS: A total of 36 shoulders in 36 patients were subsequently reviewed, 10 of whom underwent tenotomy and 26 of whom underwent osteotomy. Patients who had undergone osteotomy of the lesser tuberosity had a more favorable outcome overall. These patients showed a trend toward a better range of movement, although no statistical significance was shown. They had a better grade (grade 1) on the belly-press test compared with the tenotomy group (P = .026). All patients (osteotomy and tenotomy) with a grade 1 belly-press test had a better clinical outcome with data showing statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that in this single-surgeon sequential series, patients who underwent osteotomy of the lesser tuberosity during TSR for osteoarthritis had a better functional outcome than those who had a subscapularis tenotomy as assessed by the graded belly-press test.

A single surgeon's experience of treatment of Lisfranc joint injuries.

This paper assesses the outcomes and complications of Lisfranc joint injuries treated at a regional trauma centre under the care of a single surgeon. We performed a retrospective study of all patients that underwent ORIF of a Lisfranc joint injury over a 5-year period. Case note review, radiology review, and questionnaire assessment were performed. We analysed for correlations between outcome and injury type, mechanism of injury, and presence of other ipsilateral limb injury and pure ligamentous injury. All injuries were classified according to a system described by Myerson et al. (Types A, B1, B2, C1, C2). Radiographs were also assessed for the presence of pure ligamentous injury. Outcome was measured using the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle society (AOFAS) midfoot score. Twenty-five injuries (24 patients) were identified and 16 injuries (15 patients) were available for follow. The mean duration of follow up was 42.6 months (11-69). The mean outcome score was 78.3 (38-100). The outcome scores for pure ligamentous injury (74.9) and for mixed bony and ligamentous injury (80.9) had no significant difference (p=0.61). High-energy trauma accounted for 50% of cases, and scored significantly less than low energy trauma (69.1 versus 87.4, p<0.05). There was an associated injury in the ipsilateral limb in 31% of cases and this group had a poorer outcome (63.0 versus 85.3, p<0.035). The most common injury type was B2 (38%). Type C2 injuries (divergent with total displacement) had a worse outcome than the mean outcome of all other categories (60.5 versus 84.4, p<0.01). Our mean outcome from ORIF of Lisfranc joint injuries is comparable to internationally quoted figures. Pure ligamentous injuries did no worse statistically than mixed bony and ligamentous injuries. Poorer outcome was associated with high-energy trauma, associated injury on the ipsilateral limb, and Type C2 injuries.