Chinese Journal Of Clinical Anatomy ›› 2011, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (3): 339-342.

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Biomechanics of internal fixation for treating floating shoulder injury

DUAN Lian-hong1,HUANG Ji-feng1,ZHAO Wei-dong2,LIANG Dong-zhu2, XIA Ping-guang1, LIU Xin-yuan1   

  1. 1.Department of Orthopaedics,Wuhan General Hospital of Guangzhou Command,Wuhan 430070,China; 2.Key Laboratory of Medical Biomechanics, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
  • Received:2010-11-26 Online:2011-05-25 Published:2011-05-21

Abstract:

Objective To evaluate biomechanic effects of commonly used internal fixation methods on the treatment of floating shoulder injury. Methods The superior suspensory shoulder complex (SSSC) were dissected for simulating floating shoulder injury in 7 antiseptic upper limb specimens including collarbone and scapula. The testing included the normal specimens, simple clavicle fixation, single plate fixation of clavicle and scapula neck, and double plate fixation of clavicle and scapula neck. The ROMs of scapula neck under different states were measured by spinal motion analysis system, as well, the stability of different fixation methods for instable SSSC was compared. Results The biomechanical testing showed that, the ROMs of simple clavicle fixation were respectively (12.60±1.86)° for flexion,(8.53±1.17)° for extension,(12.47±1.43)° for left bending,(12.32±1.35)° for right bending,(10.17±1.16)° for left tortion, and (11.42±1.21)° for right tortion, which increased more obviously compared to that of other groups (P<0.05). ROMs of double plate fixation were respectively (5.53±1.12)° for flexion, (2.63±1.06)° for extension, (3.17±0.82)° for left bending, (7.03±0.60)° for right bending,(3.88±0.64)° for left tortion, and (5.33±1.54)° for right tortion, which decreased more significantly compared to that of other fixation methods (P<0.05). Conclusions Double plate fixation of clavicle and scapula neck is the best way to treat floating shoulder injury, which is helpful for avoiding scapula malunion and the instability of the shoulder.

Key words: Floating shoulder injury, Superior suspensory shoulder complex(SSSC),  , Internal fixation, Biomechanics

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