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Medial endosteal implant prevents varus collapse in patients with proximal humeral fractures
In patients who have proximal humerus fractures with medial communion or poor bone quality, a medial endosteal implant can be used as a supplement to prevent varus collapse, implant failure and operative reduction, according to a recently published study.
The study included 27 patients who were either older than 70 years or had a humerus fracture with medial communion. Surgeons attached a proximal humeral locking plate with a medial endosteal implant through an anterolateral acromial approach. The patients had an average follow-up of 63.1 weeks. The most recent radiographic follow-up as well as intraoperative fluoroscopic images helped researchers measure the change in head-shaft angle and decrease in height in patients, according to the study abstract.
Out of the 27 patients, investigators found that one patient reported complications in the form of varus due to fracture collapse. The rest of the patients lost an average of 1.2 mm in height and had a 2.2° change in their shaft-head angles. The authors reported no implant failures, screw perforations and no clinical or radiographic evidence of avascular necrosis.
Collapse