A surge in neglected shoulder dislocations and delayed surgical management due to the coronavirus disease 2019 lockdown in India

Four patients with shoulder problems that were traumatic in etiology presented to us with delays in seeking care ranging from 6 to 12 weeks due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown. The care of three cases (a 3-month-old neglected anterior shoulder dislocation with a greater tuberosity fracture in a 30-year old man, a 3-month-old neglected anterior shoulder dislocation in a 17-year old boy, and a 2-month-old neglected greater tuberosity fracture in a 31-year old man) was delayed due to the lockdown and the ensuing travel restrictions, while that of one case (a 6-week-old fracture–dislocation of the proximal humerus in a 55-year-old woman) was delayed because the patient was undergoing treatment for COVID-19 at the time of injury. This report intends to present the exceptional circumstances around these cases. The unique treatment challenges and their outcomes are also described to advise the surgeons of the nuances and difficulties in treating these injuries.

Minimally invasive open reduction by a modified suture bridge with anchors for avulsion-type greater tuberosity fracture of the humerus

Background: This study aims to describe a modified surgical method of minimally invasive open reduction by a modified suture bridge with anchors for avulsion-type greater tuberosity fracture of the humerus and to evaluate its clinical effectiveness.Methods: From January 2015 to January 2018, 16 patients who were diagnosed with an avulsion-type greater tuberosity fracture of the proximal humerus and treated with minimally invasive open reduction by modified suture bridges with anchors were retrospectively studied. All patients were followed up with clinical examination and radiographs at 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months after surgery and then every 6 months. Outcomes were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively with the visual analog scale (VAS), the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) shoulders score, the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score (ASES), and the range of motion (ROM) for shoulders.Results: There were 7 males and 9 females with an average age of 44.94 years. Six fractures involved the left shoulder, and 10 involved the right shoulder. The time between injury and operation ranged from 1 to 5 days, with an average of 2.32 days. The average length of stay was 6.5 ± 0.85 days; the mean operation time was 103.1 ± 7.23 minutes; and the mean amount of operative blood loss was 51.88 ± 6.40 ml. All patients achieved bone union within 3 months after surgery. The VAS score significantly decreased at 3 weeks postoperatively (p = 0.002), as did the average degree of forward elevation (p = 0.047). The mean degree of abduction increased at 6 weeks after the operation (p = 0.035), and the average degree of external rotation and internal rotation improved at 3 months postoperatively (p = 0.012; p = 0.007). The ASES score and the UCLA score improved at the 6-week follow-up (p = 0.092; p = 0.029). No procedure-related death or incision-related superficial or deep tissue infection was identified in any case. No iatrogenic neurovascular injuries or fractures were found in this study.Conclusion: The fracture block was fixed firmly by minimally invasive open reduction with a modified suture bridge with anchors. Patients were allowed to move their shoulder early after surgery and recovered quickly. It is an efficient method for the treatment of avulsion-type greater tuberosity fractures of the humerus.

Minimally Invasive Open Reduction by a Modified Suture Bridge with Anchors for Avulsion-type Greater Tuberosity Fracture of the Humerus

Background: This study aims to describe a new procedure of minimally invasive open reduction by a modified suture bridge with anchors for avulsion-type greater tuberosity fracture of the humerus and to evaluate its clinical effectiveness.Methods: From January 2015 to January 2018, 16 patients who were diagnosed with an avulsion-type greater tuberosity fracture of the proximal humerus and treated with minimally invasive open reduction by modified suture bridges with anchors were retrospectively studied. Endpoints were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively and included the visual analog scale (VAS), the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) shoulders score, the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score (ASES), and the range of motion (ROM) for shoulders.Results: There were 7 males and 9 females with an average age of 44.94 years. Six fractures involved the left shoulder, and 10 involved the right shoulder. The time between injury and operation ranged from 1 to 5 days, with an average of 2.32 days. The average length of stay was 6.5 ± 0.85 days; the mean operation time was 103.1 ± 7.23 minutes; and the mean amount of operative blood loss was 51.88 ± 6.40 ml. All patients achieved bone union within 3 months after surgery. The VAS score significantly decreased at 3 weeks postoperatively (p = 0.002), as did the average degree of forward elevation (p = 0.047). The mean degree of abduction increased at 6 weeks after the operation (p = 0.035), and the average degree of external rotation and internal rotation improved at 3 months postoperatively (p = 0.012; p = 0.007). The ASES score and the UCLA score improved at the 6-week follow-up (p = 0.092; p = 0.029). No procedure-related death or incision-related superficial or deep tissue infection was identified in any case. No iatrogenic neurovascular injuries or fractures were found in this study.Conclusion: The fracture block was fixed firmly by minimally invasive open reduction with a modified suture bridge with anchors. Patients were allowed to move their shoulder early after surgery and recovered quickly. It is an efficient method for the treatment of avulsion-type greater tuberosity fractures of the humerus.

Minimally Invasive Open Reduction by a Modified Suture Bridge with Anchors for Avulsion-type Greater Tuberosity Fracture of the Humerus

Background: This study aims to describe a new procedure of minimally invasive open reduction by a modified suture bridge with anchors for avulsion-type greater tuberosity fracture of the humerus and to evaluate its clinical effectiveness.Methods: From January 2015 to January 2018, 16 patients who were diagnosed with an avulsion-type greater tuberosity fracture of the proximal humerus and treated with minimally invasive open reduction by modified suture bridges with anchors were retrospectively studied. Endpoints were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively and included the visual analog scale (VAS), the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) shoulders score, the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score (ASES), and the range of motion (ROM) for shoulders.Results: There were 7 males and 9 females with an average age of 44.94 years. Six fractures involved the left shoulder, and 10 involved the right shoulder. The time between injury and operation ranged from 1 to 5 days, with an average of 2.32 days. The average length of stay was 6.5 ± 0.85 days; the mean operation time was 103.1 ± 7.23 minutes; and the mean amount of operative blood loss was 51.88 ± 6.40 ml. All patients achieved bone union within 3 months after surgery. The VAS score significantly decreased at 3 weeks postoperatively (p = 0.002), as did the average degree of forward elevation (p = 0.047). The mean degree of abduction increased at 6 weeks after the operation (p = 0.035), and the average degree of external rotation and internal rotation improved at 3 months postoperatively (p = 0.012; p = 0.007). The ASES score and the UCLA score improved at the 6-week follow-up (p = 0.092; p = 0.029). No procedure-related death or incision-related superficial or deep tissue infection was identified in any case. No iatrogenic neurovascular injuries or fractures were found in this study.Conclusion: The fracture block was fixed firmly by minimally invasive open reduction with a modified suture bridge with anchors. Patients were allowed to move their shoulder early after surgery and recovered quickly. It is an efficient method for the treatment of avulsion-type greater tuberosity fractures of the humerus.

Minimally invasive open reduction by a modified suture bridge with anchors for avulsion-type greater tuberosity fracture of the humerus

Background: This study aims to describe a new procedure of minimally invasive open reduction by a modified suture bridge with anchors for avulsion-type greater tuberosity fracture of the humerus and to evaluate its clinical effectiveness.Methods: From January 2015 to January 2018, 16 patients who were diagnosed with an avulsion-type greater tuberosity fracture of the proximal humerus and treated with minimally invasive open reduction by modified suture bridges with anchors were retrospectively studied. Endpoints were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively and included the visual analog scale (VAS), the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) shoulders score, the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score (ASES), and the range of motion (ROM) for shoulders.Results: There were 7 males and 9 females with an average age of 44.94 years. Six fractures involved the left shoulder, and 10 involved the right shoulder. The time between injury and operation ranged from 1 to 5 days, with an average of 2.32 days. The average length of stay was 6.5 ± 0.85 days; the mean operation time was 103.1 ± 7.23 minutes; and the mean amount of operative blood loss was 51.88 ± 6.40 ml. All patients achieved bone union within 3 months after surgery. The VAS score significantly decreased at 3 weeks postoperatively (p = 0.002), as did the average degree of forward elevation (p = 0.047). The mean degree of abduction increased at 6 weeks after the operation (p = 0.035), and the average degree of external rotation and internal rotation improved at 3 months postoperatively (p = 0.012; p = 0.007). The ASES score and the UCLA score improved at the 6-week follow-up (p = 0.092; p = 0.029). No procedure-related death or incision-related superficial or deep tissue infection was identified in any case. No iatrogenic neurovascular injuries or fractures were found in this study.Conclusion: The fracture block was fixed firmly by minimally invasive open reduction with a modified suture bridge with anchors. Patients were allowed to move their shoulder early after surgery and recovered quickly. It is an efficient method for the treatment of avulsion-type greater tuberosity fractures of the humerus.