1. General information
The study design was approved by the Guyuan People's Hospital Clinical Research Ethics Committee and performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Informed consent was obtained from the parents/guardians of the patients included in the study. In this study, 31 patients with humeral greater tuberosity fractures from March 2015 to June 2019 were taken as the research objects, including 12 males and 19 females, with an average age of 51.4 years old (18 to 75 years). The causes of injury included falling from heights, traffic accidents, and falling while walking or standing. All patients received shoulder X-rays and CT before surgery, and 14 patients (45.16%) underwent shoulder MRI scans to better determine rotator cuff injury. According to the AO classification, these fractures were type A extra-articular unifocal fractures (unifocally displaced greater tuberosity fracture A1.2). Among them, 19 cases were comminuted fractures, 20 cases were combined with rotator cuff injury, and 9 cases were combined with shoulder joint dislocation (Table 1. Demographics of patients). Spontaneous relocation of the shoulder joint might have occurred prior to clinical assessment. Cases might have been falsely assigned to the group of patients without shoulder dislocation. Therefore, a detailed medical history should be requested after hospitalization to avoid omissions. According to different surgical methods, the patients were divided into a suture anchor treatment group (11 cases) and an anatomical locking plate treatment group (20 cases). The postoperative follow-up was at least one year. All operations were performed by the same team of surgeons. During the operation, we also carefully checked to confirm whether cases were combined with damage to the rotator cuff and other accessory structures and treated them as needed.
Table 1
Comparison of the key patient demographics between groups
|
SAF (n = 13)
|
ALPF (n = 18)
|
Age(year)
|
53.44 ± 5.12
|
49.76 ± 4.33
|
Gender
|
|
|
Male
|
5
|
8
|
Female
|
7
|
11
|
Fracture status
|
|
|
Non-comminuted fractures
|
7
|
9
|
Comminuted fractures
|
6
|
9
|
Combined rotator cuff injury
|
9
|
11
|
Side
|
|
|
Right
|
7
|
8
|
Left
|
6
|
10
|
Shoulder joint dislocation
|
3
|
6
|
Interval from injury to surgery (days)
|
2.35 ± 1.74
|
2.87 ± 1.43
|
Follow-up (months)
|
26.88 ± 4.22
|
28.36 ± 3.45
|
(SAF, suture anchor fixation; ALPF, anatomical locking plate fixation. Age, interval from injury to surgery, and follow-up are expressed as the means ± standard deviation.) |
2. Inclusion and exclusion criteria
All patients were chosen by the following criteria.
The inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) patients with a closed fracture with normal shoulder joint function before injury; (2) clinical symptoms, signs and radiological imaging findings diagnosed as humeral greater tuberosity fracture; (3) fracture fragment displacement > 5 mm; and (4) follow-up for one year or more after the operation.
Exclusion criteria: (1) Patients with previous shoulder joint trauma or shoulder joint insufficiency; (2) Open fractures and pathological fractures; (3) Brachial plexus injury; (4) Cervical spondylosis, hemiplegia; 5) Accompanied by severe liver and kidney insufficiency, abnormal cardiopulmonary function, blood system disease; (6) Those who have a history of mental illness.
3. surgical procedure
1. Suture anchor group
The patient was under brachial plexus or general anesthesia. After anesthesia was satisfied, patients were placed in a beach chair position, and the surgical area was routinely disinfected. The incision extends from the anterolateral edge of the acromion to the distal end with a length of 5-6 cm. The gap between the anterior and middle deltoids is carefully separated, exposing the displaced greater tuberosity fracture fragment and the rotator cuff attached to it. When the distal end of the incision is separated, attention should be given to protecting the axillary nerve after clearance of hematoma and scar tissue. The displaced fracture fragment was reduced and temporarily fixed with Kirschner wires. The rotator cuff is passed, and two suture anchors are inserted (Smith & Nephew Endoscopy, Andover, MA, USA) obliquely into the humeral head on the edge of the articular cartilage. When combined with a rotator cuff injury, the suture on the suture anchor can be used for supplemental fixation. Then, a small hole is drilled in the humeral shaft 1-2 cm below the distal fracture line, and the anchor thread is passed through the small hole and tied. Alternatively, the end of the suture is squeezed with the distal row of anchors. After C-arm fluoroscopy to determine the reduction of the fracture and the position of the screw was satisfactory, the shoulder joint is passively moved to check the stability of the fracture, and the incision is sutured layer by layer (Figure 1).
2. Anatomical locking plate group
The posture and incision were the same as those in the suture anchor treatment group. The displaced greater tuberosity fracture fragment and the attached rotator cuff are exposed. After the fracture is reduced, Kirschner wire is used to temporarily fix it. Subsequently, the anatomical locking plate (Double Medical Technology Inc, Xiamen, China.) is placed below the tip of the greater tubercle and 0.8 cm outside the biceps groove, screwed in with the appropriate length screw, sutured to the surrounding rotator cuff and tied to the plate through the suture eyelets for supplemental fixation. After C-arm fluoroscopy to determine that the reduction of the fracture and the position of the screw is satisfactory, the shoulder joint is passively moved to check the stability of the fracture, and the incision is washed and sutured layer by layer (Figure 2).
4. Postoperative Management
Symptomatic treatments such as oral analgesics were given after the operation. An intravenous drip of antibiotics was given 0.5-1 hour before the operation, and another intravenous drip of antibiotics was given 12 hours after the operation to prevent infection. The postoperative rehabilitation protocols were similar for patients in the two groups. The shoulder and elbow bands were externally fixed for two weeks after the operation. After two weeks, the external fixation was removed, and the shoulder joint was passively moved. Part of the flexion and extension activities were started four weeks after the operation. Internal and external rotation and abduction were performed six weeks after the operation. The surrounding bones were reviewed after three months. After the scab formed, strength training gradually started, and some antagonistic training began approximately half a year after the operation (Figure 3). All of these activities and training methods were completed under the guidance of professional rehabilitation therapists.
5. Data Collection
Surgical times were recorded during the perioperative period. Surgical time was defined as the time from initiation of the incision to the time when suture of the incision was finished. Radiographs were obtained immediately after surgery to evaluate the adequacy of fracture reduction, which was determined by measuring the degree of residual displacement. Our follow-up doctors followed up patients in the outpatient clinic or by telephone at two weeks, one month, two months, three months, six months, and twelve months after surgery. Observe or take pictures of the relevant angle, range of motion, local skin, and patient satisfaction. The carrying angle and the range of motion were measured using a full-circle goniometer and compared with that of the contralateral arm. X-ray examination was required at each follow-up to determine the healing of the fracture. A detailed clinical and radiological examination was performed on all patients and documented. The images were blindly reviewed by a senior resident surgeon. The charts were reviewed by another resident surgeon.
6. Statistical Analysis
The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 13.0). The t-test was used to compare the postoperative clinical results, including ROM and functional scores. Statistical significance was set at a probability less than 0.05. The results are expressed as the means ± standard deviation (SD), and p<0.05 indicates a statistically significant difference.