Quantitative 3-dimensional Computerized Tomography Modeling of Isolated Greater Tuberosity Fractures with and without Shoulder Dislocation

Document Type : RESEARCH PAPER

Authors

1 Department of General Surgery, OLVG, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

2 Orthopaedic Hand and Upper Extremity Service, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

3 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, OLVG, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

4 Department of Surgery, Dell Medical School, University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to assess differences in fracture morphology and displacement between
isolated greater tuberosity (GT) fractures (i.e. fractures of the greater tuberosity without other fractures of the proximal
humerus) with and without shoulder dislocation utilizing quantitative 3-dimensional CT imaging.
Methods: Thirty-four CT-scans of isolated greater tuberosity fractures were measured with 3-dimensional modeling.
Twenty patients (59%) had concomitant dislocation of the shoulder that was reduced prior to CT-scanning. We
measured: degree and direction of GT displacement, size of the main fracture fragment, the number of fracture
fragments, and overlap of the GT fracture fragment over the intact proximal humerus.
Results: We found: (1) more overlap –over the intact humerus– in patients without concomitant shoulder dislocation
as compared to those with shoulder dislocation (P=0.03), (2) there was a trend towards greater magnitude of
displacement between those without (mean 19mm) and those with (mean 11mm) a concomitant shoulder dislocation
(P=0.07), and (3) fractures were comparable in direction of displacement (P=0.50) and size of the fracture fragment
(P=0.53).
Conclusion: We found substantial variation in degree and direction of displacement of GT fracture fragments. Variation
in degree of overlap and displacement is partially explained by concomitant shoulder dislocation.
Level of evidence: IV

Keywords

Main Subjects

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The Archives of Bone and Joint Surgery
Volume 7, Issue 1
January and February 2019
Pages 24-32

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History

  • Receive Date: 28 November 2017
  • Revise Date: 01 August 2018
  • Accept Date: 04 August 2018

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