Surgical treatments of patients with periprosthetic humeral fracture and comorbidities

Background: Periprosthetic humeral fractures represent a complex and rare complication. Currently, there is no standardized procedure for management or classification of these fractures. Questions/purposes: This unique case series purpose was to look at surgical outcomes and comorbidity profiles of 10 PHF patients. Subsequent analysis looked at whether these outcomes could add to the discussion of a proposed standard of care in a patient cohort with significant comorbidities. Patients and methods: All patients with humeral fractures from 2008-2019 were analyzed for inclusion. A total of ten patients met the inclusion criteria; humeral fracture concurrent with a shoulder arthroplasty. Each patient was managed surgically using a locking plate with or without cerclage wiring. Outcome analysis was then performed for each patient. Humoral fractures managed conservatively were removed from the dataset along with periprosthetic fractures around an elbow arthroplasty, IM nail, or supracondylar fracture after shoulder arthroplasty. Results: The average union time in all patients was 13.27±2.90 (9.86-17.29) weeks. There was no significant difference between patients treated with cerclage wiring or without. All patients had successful union except for a patient with Osteogenesis Imperfecta. There were two radial nerve palsies. The average Deyo-Charlson score and BMI was 7.1±.84 (4-13) and 29.89 respectively. Conclusion: The treatment of PHFs using the technique of ORIF with locking plate with or without cerclage wiring provides satisfactory outcomes in a patient population that usually includes significant comorbidities. Level of evidence: Therapeutic Study Level IV Retrospective Review.

Role of open cerclage wiring in patients with comminuted fractures of the femoral shaft treated with intramedullary nails

Introduction The role of open cerclage wiring in comminuted femoral shaft fracture treatment with intramedullary nails remains unclear. Here, we analyzed the effect of open cerclage wiring and the risk factors for nonunion after interlocking nailing in comminuted femoral shaft fracture treatment. We hypothesized that open cerclage wiring can be applied in patients with severe comminuted femoral shaft fractures without affecting bone healing. Patients and methods This retrospective cohort study used data from consecutive patients who underwent interlocking nail fixation of a comminuted femoral shaft fracture between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2016. First, eligible patients were divided into the wire and no wire groups according to the surgical technique used, and their union rate was recorded. The patients were then divided into the union and nonunion groups, and their perioperative data were analyzed. Results In total, 71 comminuted femoral shaft fractures treated with interlocking nail fixation were included: 38 fractures (53.5%) augmented with the open wiring technique and 33 reduced with closed or mini-open techniques without wiring. The wire group demonstrated significant improvements in fracture reduction compared with the no wire group, whereas no significant difference was observed in the union rate between the wire and no wire groups (p = 0.180). Moreover, 46 (65%) of 71 fractures achieved union smoothly, and no significant difference was observed in any perioperative data between the union and nonunion groups. Discussion Augmentation with open cerclage wiring is indicated for comminuted femoral shaft fractures treated with intramedullary nails, even when the fragments are large or greatly displaced. Thus, open cerclage wiring can be used for fracture treatment without decreasing the union rate.

Role of open cerclage wires used in patients with comminuted fractures of femoral shaft treated with intramedullary nails

IntroductionThe role of open cerclage wiring in comminuted femoral shaft fracture treatment with intramedullary nails remains unclear. Here, we analyzed the effect of open cerclage wiring and the risk factors for nonunion after interlocking nailing in comminuted femoral shaft fracture treatment. We hypothesize that open cerclage wiring is applicable to patients with severe comminuted femoral shaft fractures without affecting bone healing.Patients and MethodsThis retrospective cohort study used data of consecutive patients who underwent interlocking nail fixation of a comminuted femoral shaft fracture between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2016. First, eligible patients were divided into wire and no wire groups according to the surgical technique used and their union rate was recorded. The patients were then divided into union and nonunion groups and their perioperative data were analyzed.ResultsIn total, 71 comminuted femoral shaft fractures treated with interlocking nail fixation were included: 38 fractures (53.5%) augmented with the open wiring technique and 33 reduced with closed or mini–open wound without wiring. The wire group demonstrated significant improvements in fracture reduction compared with the no wire group, whereas no significant difference was observed in the union rate between the wire and no wire groups (p = 0.180). Moreover, 46 (65%) of 71 fractures united smoothly, and no significant difference was observed in any perioperative data between union and nonunion groups.DiscussionAugmented open cerclage wiring is indicated for comminuted femoral shaft fractures treated with intramedullary nails, even when the fragments are large or far displaced. Thus, open cerclage wiring can be used for fracture treatment, without decreasing the union rate.

Unstable Vancouver B1 Periprosthetic Femoral Fracture Fixation: A Biomechanical Comparison Between Cerclage Wiring and C-Shaped Shape Memory Alloy Implant

Although cerclage wiring is a very useful implant, it has many problems. We manufactured an alphabet C-shaped clip with nitinol (C-clip) that has superelastic property to replace the cerclage wiring.This study aimed to compare the biomechanical stability of cerclage cable and the C-clip. Eighteen synthetic femora were tested. An unstable VB1 fractures model was constructed that oblique fracture line was 8cm below the lesser trochanter with fracture gab. The distal fixation was repaired with a locking plate and four bi-cortical screws. The proximal fixation was repaired two different methods: (1) four-threaded cerclage cables and (2) four new C-clip. In axial compression test, the C-clip was stiffer than the cerclage cable (median stiffness of C-clip = 39.28 N/mm [IQR; 38.84-41.19], cerclage cable = 34.90 N/mm [34.84-35.08], p<0.05). In the torsion test, the C-clip was 0.44 Nm/° [IQR; 0.44-0.45] and cerclage cable = 0.30 Nm/° [0.30-0.33], p<0.05). In the four-point bending test, the C-clip = 39.35 N/mm [IQR; 38.91-40.97] and cerclage cable = 28.38 N/mm, [28.33-30.79], p<0.05) The C-clip may be biomechanically superior to cerclage wiring in terms of stiffness, axial compression, torsion, and four-point bending tests and is a valuable alternative in Vancouver type B1 periprosthetic femoral fracture.