The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume
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Surgery on the posterior aspect of the shoulder has become accepted practice for a number of pathological conditions affecting the scapula and the glenohumeral joint. Despite this trend, the anatomy of the posterior branch of the axillary nerve has not been well characterized. The purpose of the present study was to determine the innervation pattern and surgical relationships of the posterior branch of the axillary nerve. ⋯ The posterior branch of the axillary nerve has an intimate association with the inferior aspects of the glenoid and shoulder joint capsule, which may place it at particular risk during capsular plication or thermal shrinkage procedures. The superior-lateral brachial cutaneous nerve and the nerve to the teres minor always arise from the posterior branch. Thus, loss of sensation over the deltoid may indicate loss of teres minor function. The posterior aspect of the deltoid has a more consistent supply from the anterior branch of the axillary nerve, necessitating caution when performing a posterior deltoid-splitting approach to the shoulder.
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J Bone Joint Surg Am · Jul 2003
Primary hemiarthroplasty for treatment of proximal humeral fractures.
Primary hemiarthroplasty of the shoulder is used to treat complex proximal humeral fractures, although the reported functional results following this method of treatment have varied widely. The aim of this study was to prospectively assess the prosthetic survival and functional outcomes in a large series of patients treated with shoulder hemiarthroplasty for a proximal humeral fracture. By determining the factors that affected the outcome, we also aimed to produce models that could be used clinically to estimate the functional outcome at one year following surgery. ⋯ Primary shoulder hemiarthroplasty performed for the treatment of a proximal humeral fracture in medically fit and cooperative adults is associated with satisfactory prosthetic survival at an average of 6.3 years. Although the shoulder is usually free of pain following this procedure, the overall functional result, in terms of range of motion, function, and power, at one year varies. A good functional outcome can be anticipated for a younger individual who has no preoperative neurological deficit, no postoperative complications, and a satisfactory radiographic appearance of the shoulder at six weeks. The results are poorer in the larger group of elderly patients who undergo this procedure, especially if they have a neurological deficit, a postoperative complication requiring a reoperation, or an eccentrically located prosthesis with retracted tuberosities.
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J Bone Joint Surg Am · Jul 2003
Results of the musculofascial lengthening technique for submuscular transposition of the ulnar nerve at the elbow.
In the absence of a randomized, prospective study comparing different surgical approaches for decompression of the ulnar nerve at the elbow, the choice of an approach relies on the individual surgeon's training and experience. The present report describes the results of a prospective, long-term evaluation of the musculofascial lengthening technique in a large series of patients. In these patients, the degree of ulnar nerve compression was staged with use of a numerical grading system that included measures of both motor and sensory function. ⋯ Surgical decompression of ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow by means of a musculofascial lengthening technique was associated with an 88% rate of good to excellent results. The results of the present study demonstrate the feasibility of performing a statistical analysis of surgical results by using a numerical grading system to stage the degree of nerve compression. This method may be used to study different surgical techniques for the treatment of this common nerve compression syndrome.
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J Bone Joint Surg Am · Jul 2003
Lower-extremity function for driving an automobile after operative treatment of ankle fracture.
The purpose of this study was to determine when patients recover the ability to safely operate the brakes of an automobile following operative repair of an ankle fracture. ⋯ By nine weeks, the total braking time of patients who have undergone fixation of a displaced right ankle fracture returns to the normal, baseline value.