• Yelena Bogdan, Elizabeth B Gausden, Robert Zbeda, David L Helfet, Dean G Lorich, and David S Wellman.
• Geisinger Holy Spirit, 205 Grandview Ave, Ste 210, Camp Hill, PA, 17011, USA. ybogdan@gmail.com.
• Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2017 Aug 1; 137 (8): 1067-1070.

IntroductionIsolated greater tuberosity (GT) fractures (AO 11-A1) tend to occur in the younger patient population and are poorly managed by most precontoured proximal humerus locking plates. The goal of this study was to identify and assess an alternative treatment strategy for greater tuberosity fractures.Materials And MethodsA retrospective review of all cases of isolated greater tuberosity fractures treated with a 2.4/2.7 mesh plate (Synthes) between 2010 and 2015 was conducted. Patient demographics, operative reports, and clinical notes were reviewed. The time to radiographic union was assessed. Clinical outcomes were retrieved from patients at their follow-up visits or via mailed Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, Hand (DASH) questionnaires.ResultsTen patients with isolated GT fractures treated with mesh plating were identified with an average age of 47.1 years. The average radiographic follow-up was 7.2 months and the average clinical follow-up was 8.0 months. The mean time to union was 8.5 weeks. Two patients underwent elective hardware removal. The mean DASH at final follow-up was 28.2 (±22.4), while the mean DASH work was 13.6 (±19.1).ConclusionWe have identified a viable alternative treatment option for the surgical management of isolated greater tuberosity fractures using a mesh plate that can be contoured to the patient's anatomy. Surgeons should be aware of this option for select patients.

18 keywords...

hide…