Publication:

Evaluation of percutaneous pinning in fracture proximal one-third humerus and fracture dislocation

Background Proximal humerus fracture treatment is still an issue with lot of controversies and various treatment modalities had yielded mixed results. Our aim is to study percutaneous K-wires fixation as a modality of treatment, does not need extensive soft tissue dissection, so small fracture fragments & retains periosteal muscle & ligament attachments which held the fracture fragments together. Complications of open reduction are avoided.

Methods Fractures were classified according to Neer’s Classification system and were treated with closed reduction and K-wire Fixation. They were 16 males and 09 females, with a mean age of 40.5 years. Mean follow-up was of 20.5 months (range 9-24 months). Post-operative mean VAS score and Constant Score of patients was 2.1 (±0.73) and 78.1 (±9.61) at an average follow up of 6 months. Mean duration for union was 6.5 (±1.18) weeks. Patients were followed up at 4, 8, 12 weeks and 3, 6, 9 & 12 months interval.

Results Radiological and functional outcome assessed according to Constant-Murley Shoulder assessment. Complications treated accordingly. Percutaneous K-wire fixation is safe, limited invasive technique and following basic principles of anatomical reduction has excellent results & functional outcome.

Conclusions We concluded that the soft-tissue bridging of the fracture fragments was crucial for the reduction to benefit from the ligamentotaxis effect. This technique worked well for valgus-impacted or three-part fractures. The rate of osteonecrosis was low, and rehabilitation was easier. Overall, the results from these series are quite encouraging.