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IM nailing of displaced proximal humeral fractures shows good results
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Investigators using an intramedullary (IM) nail to fix displaced proximal humeral fractures reported good results with the device in young patients, according to this study.
They used the Polarus IM nail (Acumed; Hillsboro, Ore.) at their institution for surgical treatment of unstable or displaced proximal humeral fractures and evaluated outcomes.
"The Polarus nail was found to be an effective implant for stabilization of proximal humeral fractures," Peter V. Giannoudis, MD, FRCS, EEC, and colleagues stated in the study abstract. “Functional outcome is for the vast majority of the cases excellent or good, but in elderly patients a lower Constant score can be expected."
Giannoudis and colleagues found a 96% union rate and mean Constant score of 74.5 among the 27 patients studied; 25 patients had 36 months follow-up, mean. Seven complications were reported in the abstract, which included one instance each of fixation failure, superficial infection and impingement case, and four protruded screws.
The investigators also compared results for patients aged less than 60 years with those aged older than 60 years and found the younger age group had better functional outcomes and generally fared better with the nail.
Giannoudis and colleagues also conducted a literature review of the Polarus nail, which revealed similar results, they noted in their study. The 215 patients in the review had a mean union rate of 95.8% and the complication rates varied from 9.3% to 70%, according to the abstract.
Disclosure: Giannoudis is a consultant for DePuy, Stryker and Synthes.
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