Safety of Intramedullary Fixation for Proximal Humerus Fractures
Author Information
Author(s): Nijs Stefaan, Sermon An, Broos Paul
Primary Institution: UZ Leuven
Hypothesis
What is the safety of different proximal locking options in relation to the axillary nerve and the ascending branch of the anterior circumflex artery?
Conclusion
Surgeons must understand the risks associated with different nailing systems for proximal humerus fractures to avoid damaging the axillary nerve and ascending branch.
Supporting Evidence
- The average distance from the axillary nerve to the lateral edge of the acromion was 55.8 mm.
- Bent nails with oblique head interlocking bolts were found to be the most dangerous.
- The safest designs were the straight nails, with mean distances of 136 mm and 10 mm from the axillary nerve.
Takeaway
This study looked at how safe different types of nails are when fixing broken shoulders, finding that some nails can be very close to important nerves.
Methodology
Six different proximal humeral nails were implanted in 30 shoulders of 18 cadavers, and distances to the axillary nerve and artery were measured.
Potential Biases
Potential bias from the authors' affiliations with implant manufacturers.
Limitations
The study was conducted on cadavers, which may not fully represent live anatomical variations.
Participant Demographics
18 preserved cadavers, upper extremities intact.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website