The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume
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J Bone Joint Surg Am · Nov 2001
Percutaneous pinning of the proximal part of the humerus. An anatomic study.
Closed reduction and percutaneous pinning of unstable proximal humeral fractures is a well-described technique with some theoretical advantages over open techniques. To our knowledge, the risk of injury to neurovascular structures from percutaneous pinning of the proximal part of the humerus has not been studied. We sought to quantify this risk using a cadaveric model. ⋯ The technique used in this study may be associated with a risk of injury to important anatomic structures about the shoulder. Lateral pins should be distal enough to avoid injury to the anterior branch of the axillary nerve, and multiple fluoroscopic views should be obtained to avoid penetration of the humeral head cartilage. There may be a risk of injury to the cephalic vein, the biceps tendon, and the musculocutaneous nerve with use of anterior pins, and these pins should be employed with caution. Greater tuberosity pins should be placed with the arm in external rotation, should be aimed for a point 20 mm from the inferior aspect of the humeral head, and should not overpenetrate the cortex.
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J Bone Joint Surg Am · Nov 2001
Failure of external spinal skeletal fixation to improve predictability of lumbar arthrodesis.
Whether lumbar arthrodesis can relieve isolated low-back pain in the absence of focal neurological findings or instability is unclear. The results of published studies are also inconsistent with regard to whether temporary back-pain relief with external spinal skeletal fixation can predict lasting back-pain relief after arthrodesis. This report presents the results, with regard to clinical benefit and complications, of more than 100 external spinal skeletal fixation procedures undertaken as a prelude to lumbar arthrodesis. ⋯ On the basis of this analysis, external spinal skeletal fixation should not be used as a predictor of pain relief after lumbar arthrodesis.